Lake Michigan Shore AVA

Lake Michigan Shore AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in southwest Michigan. Located in the state's traditional "fruit belt region", Lake Michigan Shore is the oldest modern commercial grape region of the state and home to a majority of Michigan vineyards and half of the state wine grape production. Vineyards in the region date back to 1867.

Lake Michigan Shore AVA

Wine region
Type	American Viticultural Area
Year established	1983, amended in 1987[1]
Country	United States
Part of	Michigan
Sub-regions	Fennville AVA
Climate region	Continental
Soil conditions	Sandy[2]
Total area	1,280,000 acres (5,180 km2)[3]
Grapes produced	Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chancellor, Chardonnay, Chelois, De Chaunac, Gewurztraminer, Lemberger, Malbec, Marsanne, Merlot, Müller-Thurgau, Petit Verdot, Pinot gris, Pinot noir, Riesling, Roussanne, Seyval blanc, St. Vincent, Syrah, Traminette, Vidal blanc, Vignoles, Viognier[4]
No. of wineries	33

Lake Michigan Shore AVA

Climate and geography

The AVA boundaries include the smaller Fennville AVA and extend as far as 45 miles (72 km) inland from the lakeshore; however, the climate and glacial moraine soils are relatively similar throughout. The "lake effect" off of Lake Michigan tempers the northern climate. Lake Michigan Shore AVA has a warmer growing season, as much as two weeks longer than the Leelanau Peninsula AVA and Old Mission Peninsula AVA, both of which are in Northern Michigan.^[4] The hardiness zone is 6a except near enough to Lake Michigan in Berrien County where it is 6b.