Villa Mari Vineyards is nestled on the Old Mission peninsula, an 18-mile long strip of land that divides the Grand Traverse Bay in Northern Michigan at the 45th parallel, half way between the Equator and the North Pole.

It's no surprise to find the Northern Michigan area a burgeoning wine-producing mecca. After all, it shares the same latitude as wine producing areas of respectable repute around the globe, such as the Bordeaux region in France, Italy's hilltop Piedmont region, the Istrian peninsula of Croatia in the Adriatic sea,  Krasnodar Krai ~ the Russian Napa Valley, and China's Northern Silk Road in the province of Xinjiang, and the undulating hills bordering the Willamette River in our own Oregon.

The Old Mission peninsula's cool climate has sprung forth some fine quality white wines, but the short growing season, unpredictable frosts and harsh winter provides challenges for producing consistent vintage red wines.