Tastemakers: Taste the Local Difference 2009/ MIchigan Sparkling Wine

Dec. 28, 2008

Taste The Local
Difference 2009

Last year in my Tastemakers column I pledge to “go local” in my eating and buying habits and to keep track of my efforts and report back a year later. As I wrote that column I stepped on the scale and it was ugly. I was 241 pounds -- 60 pounds more than my wedding day weight. Now there is a danger in working in and writing about the business of food and drink, and weight gain is one of those hazards. My 6’3” frame and my signature sweatshirt look hid those pounds somewhat from the public, but looked and felt like that “s” word.
So I made a decision one year ago to change my approach. One part of that was to watch my consumption habits. I write about the appreciation of food and drink, but I had reached a point of not appreciating what I was consuming. Some weeks I would attend 10 or more events that had “free” food and drink, and I took full advantage.
Now, when I attend events, I pick and choose and watch my intake of both food and drink. I find myself enjoying the events more as well as what I taste.
Leading a busy life of work, family and play, I found myself hitting the fast food joints all the time up until the last year. But in 2008, I could count on two hands the number of times I had fast food.
In that article I committed to eating and buying local products to make up 50 percent of my consumption, and most weeks I was successful in that endeavor. Not only was I eating and drinking better but my (family) food costs did not go up. In fact, as a family we spent less money on food in 2008 than we did in 2007.
I look forward to keeping this trend going in 2009 and encourage you to join me. A great way to start is to pick up the Michigan Land Use Institute’s “Taste the Local Difference Guide.” Use the farm markets in the area. Seek out locally-grown products whenever possible and support area restaurants that use local products. See localdifference.org for more information.
Oh, as for my weight, I am now at 208 pounds and plan to be at 195 this time next year. There was no fancy diet program, I just ate local, watched my consumption and exercised moderately every day. Happy New Year.


Michigan Sparkling Wine

This time of the year, corks are popping as the New Year is rung in. The popularity of Champagne (sparkling wine) is growing as a beverage to be enjoyed all the time, not just at New Year’s Eve or other celebratory occasions. Just ask Larry Mawby, Michigan’s sparkling wine guru, and he will tell you: “There is a reason to celebrate every day.”
At his Suttons Bay winery, Mawby leads the way for the Michigan sparkling wine business. (Anything with bubbles made outside of the Champagne region of France is referred to as sparkling wine.) Most sparkling wines made in Michigan at other wineries go through the final steps at Mawby’s winery.
About 15 years ago, Mawby made a decision to focus his winery solely on the production of sparkling wine; today he rarely produces still wines. Mawby’s success has earned him a reputation worldwide among sparkling wine producers. A few years back “Time Magazine” selected his as one of five wineries in the country to keep an eye on. Gina Gallo of the famous Gallo wine-making family visited and gave serious consideration to buying the winery.
Mawby makes sparkling wine to fit all palates. Under his L. Mawby line he produces wines using the traditional Méthode Champenoise process. He also makes sparklers under the M. Lawarence line. Most Michigan wineries are now offering at least one sparkler. Sparkling wines pair nicely with many foods. I enjoy them during cocktail hour with cheeses and fruits and find them as a nice break from beer. During dinner, I enjoy them with cream or oil pastas and grilled fish. After dinner, I will turn to a Michigan sparkling wine in lieu of dessert, although strawberries dipped in white chocolate with a flute of Cremant from Mawby is hard to pass up. Seek out Michigan sparkling wines by either visiting the area wineries or stopping at your favorite store.