St Julian Copper Vine
I go back to the States maybe once a year is all. For the last two years those have been work trips to DC. While I’ve been able to see friends, and during my latest trip in March, was also able to sneak out to Vegas for a few days to meet my bff’s new baby, I have not made it “home” for almost two years. These last few years, should anyone ask me where home is I would say Istanbul. My life is here as are my work, my cat, and most importantly, my wine collection. However, Michigan will never not be home as well. A true Michigangster not only always uses her hand as a map but leaves a part of her heart in the Mitten State.
St Julian Always Takes Me Home
St Julian Winery in Paw Paw, Michigan is the state’s longest running winery. Founded in 1921 in Canada by Italian immigrant Mariano Meconi, the business relocated to Michigan after the repeal of Prohibition. In 1936 Meconi renamed the winery to its current name, St. Julian Wine Co. The Meconi family still runs the winery with the family’s fourth generation now in charge.
St. Julian sits in the Lake Michigan Shore AVA, which it helped found. Lake Michigan Shore is the largest of the state’s AVAs and is located in the southwestern corner of the state. Or, if you’re a Michigangster using your state “map”, you’re pointing at the fleshy part of your right palm!
Even before I reached legal drinking age I knew St Julian through its range of sparkling juices. My older sister and I used to drink those as kids and pretend they were real wine. In fact, our mom even brought a bottle of St Julian sparkling white grape juice to Mexico for my sister’s wedding toast! I was still living in Michigan when I turned 21. At that point I turned from 
sparkling juices and some of my early forays into wine, as a know-nothing neophyte, were also with wine from St Julian. I have very fond memories of the winery’s Red and Blue Heron wines.
St Julian Copper Vine
So how excited was I to arrive in Vegas where my bff, also a Michigangster, had a bottle of St Julian for us to drink?! And not just any bottle. The wine geek in me exploded in delight when she showed me a bottle of St Julian Copper Vine. Amber wine from Michigan of all places! It seems almost fated that the very first Michigan amber wine I drink come from St Julian.
The Copper Vine is a 100% Pinot Gris fermented on the skins to create an intense amber orange. A color that looks very much like Baltic amber stones in fact. Flowers and herbs mingled with a hint of cigar smoke rose from the glass. Sipping revealed lemon rind, lemony thyme, and savory. Medium-bodied with 12% abv, the Copper Vine has the slight rasp of shy tannins and a medium, dry finish.
A very round about homecoming by way of Las Vegas. But a bottle of St Julian will always feel like home to me!