One Lucky Dude!
Posted May 19, 2007 by Steve
That one Lucky Dude would just happen to be me! First John Peppler found the property, Maynard consulted and gave great encouragement, Doug Matthies designed a state of the art production facility (which is now 98% complete) and planted 15,000 plants, and now, Shawn Walters is Forty-Five North’s winemaker. For those of you attuned to the Michigan wine industry know that Shawn is the foremost, emminent winemaker in the state. To say that he is a child prodigy gives away my age and as you know, all is relative. His accolades run deep, one could paper a wall with all his awards and trim the room with the gold medal ribbons. His most recent ribbons include the cab franc at the Michigan State Fair and Number Uno ratings from MichWine.com for his pinot grigios and Rieslings. As we’ve discussed, the tanks are on the way and we will be in production yet this summer. Shawn is a genuine family man and will be discussing future wines and other wine topics on this site. Please stay tuned to the Detroit Free Press The Detroit News website for an update on Shawn and Forty-Five North. I am confident that Shawn and Doug will lead Forty-Five North for the next 40 years and take Leelanau Peninsula AVA to its rightful place of imminence in the country’s wine industry. I have my Riedel glass ready and waiting. As a toast, I raise my glass to all my old, new, and to be friends, Salute!
Ciao for now,
Steve
Sandra Silfven
May 21, 2007 at 1:34 pm
A slight oops! It’s Sandra Silfven at The Detroit News, not Detroit Free Press, who will post a new column on Forty Five North on Thursday, May 24 at
detnews.com/wine
Steve
May 21, 2007 at 5:44 pm
Sandra:
Please pardon my oops. I am sorry, I am an out of stater was not aware of my error. My son caught this today and has corrected the column as seen above. Again, my most humble apologies for lack of name and incorrect paper. Forgive?? Thanks Steve
TOM SANDERS
May 24, 2007 at 5:38 pm
HI STEVE & LORI,
CONGRATS ON YOUR NEW WINE VENTURE!! AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW. MAYNARD IS KEEPING US ABREAST OF THE DEVELOPING VENTURE. AM LOOKING FORWARD TO FOLLOWING YOUR PROGRESS AS I KNOW YOU ALL WILL BE VERY SUCCESSFUL. BEST OF LUCK!!
TS
carol price
June 2, 2007 at 4:32 pm
Hey where are all the new pictures? I would like to see the progress on the building and some of the plantings. Rick and I are considering coming to traverse this summer to check out the location and we are going to go on the wine trail (Paw Paw, South Haven, etc.) Any suggestions of where to go first? We so enjoy the updates and the ease of writing you have. Thanks Gibby
Blake
June 3, 2007 at 8:28 pm
Seve, Congrats on the new hire and all the attention. From what I read it seems that everything is falling into place. I cannot wait to start tasting. Best of luck in the next few weeks before you open. Hope to talk to you soon.
Blake
Kathy Nate
June 15, 2007 at 7:08 pm
Congratulations from Kathy and Arlene! We are expecting a grand tour of Forty Five North at the end of June when we will be spending four relaxing days in Empire.
Perhaps at the next dance event you and I should do a West Coast Swing to Marvin Gaye’s “Heard It Through the Grapevine”! Give it some thought Seve!
Looking forward to your first harvest for “Un Bon Vin Blanc”
Your Dance Teacher, Kathy
Eric Teasley
June 27, 2007 at 6:06 pm
Steven, congrats on the new venture & welcome to the wonderful world of grapes in Leelanau ! Plz email me as we have biz to discuss
Tom and Sara
July 22, 2007 at 10:56 am
Dear Steve and Lori,
CONGRATULATIONS! We are so excited for you…and have our glasses waiting for a taste! Winemaking has been so fun for us, on a much smaller scale, of course, so we share in your joy of this new adventure. We’ve saved your website as a “Favorite” and will check in often.
Tom and Sara