Last week marked the two year anniversary of my study abroad experience. I had gone to a vineyard in Frascati, Italy and it was one experience I'll never forget. "Rome-sick" involves all the tastes and smells around Rome you could possibly imagine! Feeling nostalgic about Rome, I settled for the next best thing – I made a trip to a vineyard! This time, my destination was Vineyard 2121 in Benton Harbor, Michigan. As most things go, I naturally assumed the role of third wheel as her and her boyfriend showed me the town whereabouts. I was having the "Sunday Scaries" not wanting to deal with the reality of Monday, so what better way to subside the side effects than visiting a vineyard?
The Background
Owned by the Pallas Family, they pride themselves on hand-crafted local wines and support local produce featured on their menu. The tasting room is impressive and if you step out onto the patio it is simply exquisite. Vineyard 2121 is certainly mindful of friendly environmental practices, being certified under the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MEAP) that aims to minimize agricultural pollution. Not only are they certified, but they also hold the 2014 award for Berrien County's Conservation Farm of the Year!
The Tasting
I began with trying the eight pre-selected wines to get a feel for the most popular choices here. As you can see above, the wines are listed from driest to sweetest wine. (A big shout-out to Tony who let us use his Bon Vivant membership to snag us even more bang for our buck, you rock).
I tend to gravitate towards more dry wines. I typically like Chardonnays and Malbec's with the exception of an occasional blush and dessert wines. I didn't think I would enjoy the slushee, but I'm glad I was wrong! After the initial eight pre-selected tastings, I felt a bit curious of a few other wines. I decided to do an additional flight, with three white wines, a red one, and an additional full glass of the peach slushee.
The Food
I was pretty hungry by the time we made our way up to Michigan. I didn't want to get anything too heavy, so the three of us decided to go with the the Charcuterie board that was said to be adequate for three to four people. My favorite thing on this plate was the sharp white cheddar with cranberries. There's no way you can go wrong with charcuterie boards paired with wine!
At the end of my trip to Vineyard 2121, I was satisfied with my spontaneous choice. Visiting a vineyard doesn't have to pricey as long as you know where to go. You can have an inexpensive experience with quality products (and people). Take a break come Sunday and go enjoy this hidden gem!