The History of Michigan Wines

Savor the taste of wines inspired by the Great Lakes, and learn about Joseph Sterling, who ignited Michigan's first viable wine region in the 1800s along Lake Erie.  Discover how the Detroit River was used for bootlegging during Prohibition, how the raid on red wine in the Upper Peninsula generated national headlines and how Michigan became the first state to repeal.  Learn about the wineries that boosted production to make Michigan a leading wine producer through the 1960s, when the changing marketplace caused a slump in production and sales.  Since then, new grape varietals have spurred resurgence in the industry, garnering Michigan worldwide attention for its locally influenced wines.