New winery alert! Learn about the man behind Poetson. Alex McNeely has built a career in East Coast beverage programs and now brings that expertise to Michigan wine. This episode explores his professional pivot, his interest in the region’s potential, and how experienced talent can shape Southwest Michigan’s wine community. Learn more at poetsonwine.com or contact Alex directly at alex@poetsonwine.com.

In this episode, I sit down with Neal Hulkower, an applied mathematician and longtime wine writer based in Oregon. Neal’s deep dive into comparative tastings spans decades, and his recent blind tasting of Oregon and Michigan Pinot Noirs offers a fresh perspective on how our state’s wines stack up. We discuss his methodology, including the Borda count and stars and bars analysis, and reflect on the results. Featured Michigan wines include Bel Lago, Chateau Fontaine, and Black Star Farms.

For questions, Neal can be reached at nhulkower@yahoo.com

Check out his book, "Grape Explications":

https://www.oregonwinepress.com/article?articleTitle=grape-explications%21--1751386610--3868--news

Check out his related articles:

“Smitten with the Mitten”: https://www.oregonwinepress.com/article?articleTitle=smitten-with-the-mitten--1741054267--3834

“Borda is Better”: https://www.oregonwinepress.com/article?articleTitle=borda-is-better--1317231621--959--

Michigan Governor’s Cup awards can be found here: https://wineindustryadvisor.com/2025/06/04/2025-taste-michigan-governors-cup-results/

In this episode of If Vines Could Talk, we step into the cellar with Stranger Wine Co. to explore their bold winemaking approach. We taste through an exceptional lineup, including:

- 2023 Grüner – Outcross Vineyard, LMS

- 2024 Kerner – Lyons Estate, OMP

- 2024 Cabernet Franc Blanc Pet Nat (Yeastie Boys) – Fernweh Vineyards, OMP

- 2024 Carbonic Pinot Noir – Shady Lane Estate, LP

- 2023 Pinot Noir – Old Shore, LMS

- 2023 Cabernet Franc – Domaine Berrien, LMS

Find out more at www.strangerwineco.com or email them at hellostranger@strangerwineco.com.

Michigan Governor’s Cup awards can be found here: https://wineindustryadvisor.com/2025/06/04/2025-taste-michigan-governors-cup-results/