Southeast Michigan Pioneer Wine Trail

While the winemaking region of southeastern Michigan is no match for the wineries that line the Southwest Coast and surround Grand Traverse Bay, connoisseurs will still appreciate the selections that constitute the Southeast Michigan Pioneer Wine Trail (www.pioneerwinetrail.com [1]).

In Jackson [2], you’ll find Sandhill Crane Vineyards (4724 Walz Rd., 517/764-0679, www.sandhillcranevineyards.com [3], 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Mon.–Sat., noon–6 p.m. Sun.), an award-winning, family-owned winery with a year-round tasting room.

Other area wineries include the Lone Oak Vineyard Estate (8400 Ann Arbor Rd., Grass Lake, 517/522-8167, www.loneoakvineyards.com [4], noon–7 p.m. daily), established in 1997 and offering complimentary tastings, and the Pentamere Winery (131 E. Chicago Blvd., Tecumseh, 517/423-9000, www.pentamerewinery.com [5], 11 a.m.–7 p.m. Tues.–Fri., 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Sat., noon–5 p.m. Sun.), where you can even take classes on the techniques of tasting and evaluating wines.