Short Pour: LFC Wine Club

Week 15 - April 14-20

Something(s) to Love

There are many things I love about belonging to Left Foot Charley's wine club. First, my quarterly pickup is a reason in itself to visit the tasting room. I have three friends that work there, including my friend Jess who was my very first friend in Traverse City (she is now LFC tasting room manager and wine club manager). I especially like when I can pair my pickup with a chance to enjoy a glass on the patio or a flight at the counter. My go-to glasses are the skin-fermented Pinot Gris (the orange-ish colored wine in the mini decanter third from the left, pictured above), the Island View Pinot Blanc (above, second from left), the Blaufrankisch (the red wine above), and whatever sparkling wine is available (The sparkler above, all the way to the left, is the 2021 Cremant of Michigan). 

I'm not reviewing wines today - as I have a major conflict of interest reviewing the hospitality experience or the wines of LFC (read more about the huge impact LFC had on my move to Traverse City here). It is worth noting that the Island View Pinot Blanc is one of the most awarded wines in the region and I often hear it showcased as the most convincing example of how well-suited Northern Michigan is to growing this grape. The Producer and owner of the Island View Vineyard on OMP was one of the first local winemakers I ever met, the brilliant, kind, and fun local legend Werner Kuehnis who sadly passed away earlier this year. To see what Werner meant to Brian and LFC just look at the webiste - that's Werner in the header photo with LFC co-owner Brian analyzing barrels. I'll remember him fondly and treasure his story of how a Swiss engineer came to be one of the region's most lauded and decorated steward of the earth and its satisfying results.

I joined the wine club when my friend Kristy started working there in 2020 as a showing of solidarity for her new position, and have enjoyed my 13 quarterly pickups so far.