In the News
- Leelanau County Wine Dinner at Cherry Basket Farm in Northport
MyNorth — July 27, 2009 by Elizabeth Edwards
It happened at Cherry Basket Farm in Northport where chefs Cammie Buehler and Andy Schudlich operate Epicure Catering. Cammie and Andy use the dramatically verdant setting to host events like weddings and anniversies. But the occasion on this balmy eve, when smoke-colored clouds floating across a blue sky cast shadows over the orchards, fields and gardens, was a dinner featuring the wines of winemaker Shawn Walters of Forty-Five North Vineyard and Winery and showcasing Michigan food and the magic that it becomes in the talented hands of the staff of Epicure Catering.
- Forty-Five North Gets a Ten
Michigan By The Bottle — July 2, 2009 by Shannon Casey
I cannot encourage you strongly enough to take time and visit this winery. The wines were all top-notch and the staff was incredible. We will be adding this winery to our list of favorites when we return for our annual tasting tour.
- DRY ROSÉ REVIEWS: Is it summertime yet?
MichWine — June 3, 2009 by Joel Goldberg
The top-scoring wine, 2008 Forty-Five North Pinot Noir Rosé (90 points), is noticeably off-dry, bursting with bright fruit flavors set against a stiff acid backbone.
- Check out the slice of Michigan halfway between the equator and North Pole
Detroit Free Press — May 10, 2009 by Ellen Creager
45th Parallel sights include the Forty-Five North Vineyard and Winery northwest of Suttons Bay, exactly on the line.
- Experience the Latitude – 2007 Forty-Five North Cabernet Franc
Good Grape — May 2, 2009 by Jeff Lefevere
The 2007 Cabernet Franc is a stunning piece of work for any wine, let alone a first year of production. Hats off to winemaker Shawn Walters.
- 45 North Blows 'em Away in CA
MichWine — April 25, 2009
Forty-Five North Winery took the Best of Show Rosé plus two more gold medals at the Pacific Rim International International Wine Competiton, April 22-23.
- Tastemakers: Jordan Inn Chef's Challenge
Northern Express — April 13, 2009 by Rick Coates
Walters’ 2007 Reserve Chardonnay strikes a nice oak balance and is close to being sold out. His 2007 Unwooded Chardonnay flew out the door and sold out quickly. The same should happen to his 2008 Unwooded Chardonnay. Don’t expect this wine to be around long as fruit flavors and aromas that would otherwise be masked by oak bounce around the palate nicely. Buy this wine quickly and enjoy this summer with whitefish and salmon dishes or with appetizers at a deck party. Be sure to cellar a few bottles for enjoyment over the next three to five years, this one shows great cellaring promise.
- Parallel to France, winery clearly Michigan
The Journal Gazette — March 14, 2009 by Dan and Krista Stockman
The first vintage, 2007, was a stunning success.
- Forty-Five North gives edge to fruit wines
The Detroit News — February 19, 2009 by Sandra Silfven
Forty-Five North, which already has a stash of gold medals for its dry grape wines, has rolled out a bunch of fruit wines in clear-glass bottles with classy linen-white labels that bear the trademark of a good winemaker: clarity, intense aromas, complex flavors and added edge from either light carbonation or a little-less sugar than most fruit wines have.
- Wine of the Week: 2007 Icebox Pinot Gris
The Detroit News — February 19, 2009 by Sandra Silfven
This wine is dessert. All by itself.
- In the Dead of Winter, Traverse City Vineyards Come Alive
The 45th — February 15, 2009 by Nat Almirall
"Contrary to popular belief--it's busy in the winter," says Shawn Walters of 45 North. "We do all the processing, stabilization, and bottling now. At the moment we're bottling varietals, an unwooded chardonnay, two Rieslings, and a semi-dry pinot noir."
- Wine of the Week: 2008 Nouveau Pinot Noir Rosé
The Detroit News — February 12, 2009 by Sandra Silfven
On the palate, you still get that sensation of red vinifera grapes, red berries, cherries, melons and minerality, and a touch of sweetness.
- Tastemakers: Hooter's Hot Wings
Northern Express — January 26, 2009 by Rick Coates
The 2007 Pinot Gris from Forty-Five North is crisp and clean and dry, though rich and deep fruit flavors give a sense of sweetness. [...] This wine is perfect during the cocktail hour and at dinner. Pair with creamy pasta dishes, grilled seafood and thick cut pork chops.
- Wine of the Week: Peach Crémant
The Detroit News — December 4, 2008 by Sandra Silfven
Chilled, it would be enjoyable served sans food as an afterdinner drink, or with a luscious wedge of apple or peach pie. It's fun and well-made.
- Tastemakers: The Art of Seasoning
Northern Express — November 24, 2008 by Rick Coates
The Nouveau is a real "fruit bomb" and will be perfect with the turkey.
- Riesling rising, and more, in Leelanau Peninsula, Michigan
USA Today — October 2, 2008 by Jerry Shriver
Forty-Five North Vineyard in Lake Leelanau is putting the finishing touches on a reassembled 120-year-old barn to house its tasting room.
- Wine of the Week: 2007 Reserve Chardonnay
The Detroit News — September 11, 2008 by Sandra Silfven
Once it settles down, the wine is pretty delicate: stony dry and crisp with tart fruit.
- Shawn Walters, Hybrids and 2007 Whites Strut Their Stuff at State Competition
MichWine — September 1, 2008
Shawn Walters earned two of his eight Gold and Double Gold medals for his base of operations, Leelanau Peninsula's new Forty-Five North Winery.
- Tastemakers: Michigan Asparagus
Northern Express — May 12, 2008 by Rick Coates
[Winning several awards at the Pacific Rim International Wine Competition] is an impressive feat, especially for a brand new winery to have the "best overall" white wine in a very tough and competitive competition.
- Kudos to Forty-Five North
Up North Foodies — May 6, 2008 by Paula McIntyre
Congratulations to winemaker Shawn Walters and Forty-Five North, one of Michigan new wineries, for snagging three "Double Gold - Best of Class" medals and a "Best of Show" distinction at last week's 2008 Pacific Rim International Wine Competition in California.
- Forty-Five North Vineyard Receives Three Double-Golds
mlive.com — May 1, 2008 by Dave Liske
Forty-Five North - Michigan's newest wineries - has barreled onto the viticultural scene...
- New Forty-Five North winery arrives with a bang
Leelanau.com — May 24, 2007 by Andrew McFarlane
"I'm the luckiest dude in the world," the 60-year-old Grossnickle said in a recent interview.
- Winemaker Shawn Walters Heads to "Forty-Five North"
MichWine — May 23, 2007 by Joel Goldberg
Matthies described the new facility as "state-of-the-art", with the ability to do a full gravity flow operation and the capacity to make 30,000 cases of wine per year, although the initital goal is closer to 10,000.
