Tip of the Mitt AVA

The Tip of the Mitt AVA was established on July 21, 2016, by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, becoming the 236th AVA in the United States and Michigan's fifth. The designation came after two previous unsuccessful applications by the Straits Area Grape Growers Association (SAGGA), and it was the first new Michigan AVA in nearly 30 years since 1987. The name derives from the region's location at the northernmost tip of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, a state famously shaped like a mitten. At the time of designation, the AVA had 41 commercially producing vineyards covering 94 acres, with eight wineries in operation and an additional 48 acres and four new wineries in the planning stages.

• Proposed by the Straits Area Grape Growers Association after two prior failed applications
• First new Michigan AVA since 1987, a gap of nearly 30 years
• Named for Michigan's mitten-shaped Lower Peninsula, of which this region forms the tip
• Launched with 41 vineyards across 94 acres and eight wineries

The Tip of the Mitt sits at the northern end of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, ringed by some of the Great Lakes system's most significant bodies of water: Lake Michigan to the west, Lake Huron to the east, the Straits of Mackinac to the north, and Grand Traverse Bay and Little Traverse Bay to the south and west. This surrounding water mass is the engine of the AVA's viticultural identity. Westerly prevailing winds distribute warm air from Lake Michigan across the peninsula, creating a growing season 19 days longer than regions immediately to the south and generating more growing degree days. The lake effect also protects against spring frosts, a critical advantage this far north. Sandy soils heat up faster in spring, enabling earlier bud break after frost danger passes, while the soils' capacity for water retention naturally delays bud burst until spring frost risk has subsided.

• Surrounded by Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, the Straits of Mackinac, and two major bays
• Growing season is 19 days longer than adjacent regions to the south
• Lake effect provides spring frost protection and distributes warm westerly air
• Sandy soils heat quickly in spring and retain water to delay bud burst past frost risk

The AVA's soils are products of glacial activity, consisting of coarse-textured glacial till alongside lacustrine sand and gravel. Textures range from sandy to loamy to clay across the region. A standout characteristic is the higher organic matter content compared to regions to the south, which reduces the need for nutrient supplementation in the vineyard. Sandy portions of the AVA warm rapidly in spring and drain freely, while the overall soil profile supports the cold-hardy hybrid varieties that define viticulture here.

• Glacial till and lacustrine sand and gravel dominate the soil profile
• Sandy, loamy, and clay textures present across the AVA
• Higher organic matter than southern Michigan regions reduces fertilizer needs
• Sandy areas warm faster in spring and offer good drainage for vine roots

Cold-hardy hybrid varieties account for 95% of cultivation in the Tip of the Mitt AVA, reflecting the limits of this northern climate for traditional Vitis vinifera. Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Riesling are noted as difficult to grow in this environment. The leading varieties are Marquette, Frontenac, Frontenac Gris, Frontenac Noir, La Crescent, Petite Pearl, Cayuga, Vignoles, Lemberger, and Traminette, with Marquette, Frontenac, and La Crescent all developed by the University of Minnesota specifically for cold-climate viticulture. A small number of vineyards also grow Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Chardonnay, and Riesling. Wine styles lean toward crisp aromatic whites and fruit-forward reds, with fruit wines and ciders also produced in the region.

• 95% of cultivated grapes are cold-hardy hybrids; vinifera is largely impractical
• Marquette, Frontenac, and La Crescent were developed by the University of Minnesota
• La Crescent and Vignoles produce crisp, aromatic white wines suited to the cool climate
• Fruit wines and ciders are also part of the regional production landscape

Approximately 20 wineries now operate within the Tip of the Mitt AVA, with many clustered around Petoskey, the county seat of Emmet County. The Petoskey Wine Trail, formerly known as the Bay View Wine Trail, connects visitors to producers across the region. Notable wineries include Petoskey Farms Vineyard and Winery, Mackinaw Trail Winery, Walloon Lake Winery, Pond Hill Farm Winery, Maple Moon Sugarbush and Winery, Seasons of the North, Rudbeckia Winery and Brewery, Crooked Vine Vineyard and Winery, and Harvest Thyme Farm and Vineyards.

• Around 20 wineries operate in the AVA, centered near Petoskey in Emmet County
• The Petoskey Wine Trail (formerly Bay View Wine Trail) links producers for wine tourism
• Producers range from estate vineyard wineries to farm operations combining wine with agriculture