Michigan dunes wine country drive, July 13, 2019
This one was worth waiting for. In 2018, our club's sole Michigan resident, Lou Hoekstra,
told the events team that he would like to host a driving tour of the southwest corner of his
state. His offer was enthusiastically accepted, and Lou went to work on the details:
plotting a route, identifying scenic and uncongested roads to drive on, picking interesting
spots to stop at along the way, and arranging for the feeding of a large (it was hoped) group
of people. The date was set for October 20, when the weather would be cool and the fall
colors would be at their height, and a large group of club members did sign up for the drive.
And then, at the last minute, the weather forecast called for torrential rains all that day in
that part of the state. Postponing the drive for a week was not an option, so the club
responded by switching to the other side of the lake and going to New Glarus instead. It did
pour all that day in Michigan, while Wisconsin got only a few snow flurries. The Michigan tour
would have to wait for another season.
When the planning for 2019 got under way, Lou was still game and made arrangements for a luncheon
at the Tabor Hill Winery on July 13. On the appointed day
18 people showed up in 11 cars at the starting point in Three Oaks. The weather was on the
hot side but bright and clear. The roads were spectacular, and the cars ran well. We
drove north along the lake shore as far as Saugatuck and then headed east into Michigan's famous
fruit growing region. Our first stop was at the
Virtue Cider mill in Fennville, where we sampled a
wide variety of hard ciders. (Fortunately, we were in the Eastern time zone, so it was after
twelve o'clock, and the drivers among us were careful to drink moderately.) From there it was
another hour to the Tabor Hill Winery in Buchanan, where the
food is excellent and the dining room offers the rare pleasure of sipping a glass of wine as you
look out the window at the source of the grapes it was made from. After dessert (made with
local Michigan fruit, of course) Lou got a big round of applause for making it all happen.
All in all it was a very satisfying day on the road. Thanks again, Lou.
Arrival at the first stop, Virtue Cider.
photo by Cindy Olsen
Tempting even without a snake.
photo by Wally Wright
Curt Crowell attempts to show Lou Hoekstra how big the entire club's gratitude is to Lou for
organizing this wonderful event.
photo by Jim Hinde
Inside the cider mill. The trays in the foreground contain "flights"--samples of five
varieties of cider.
photo by Cindy Olsen
Jim Hinde, Wally Wright, and Jim Ozimek are joined for a glass by Cindy Olsen, who contributed four
of the photos on this page.
photo by Virtue Cider server
Leo Dreisilker, Charles Navarro, Tammy Hellings, and Eric and Mari Smith.
photo by Jim Hinde
Sarah Lawrence and Ron Felson sample cider in front of a map that is older than the earliest 356.
photo by Jim Hinde
Jim Ozimek demonstrates his advanced technique for cider comparison tasting.
photo by Wally Wright
On the road again, on the home stretch to lunch.
photo by Cindy Olsen
The entrance to Tabor Hill Winery, adorned nicely for a moment.
photo by Cindy Olsen
The gang arrives at the winery.
photo by Wally Wright
At the table for lunch.
photo by Wally Wright
Studying the menu.
photo by Wally Wright
Tabor Hill's vineyard viewed from the dining room.