In response to Executive Order 2020-04, declaring a state of emergency across the state of Michigan concerning the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Great Lakes Wine & Spirits has taken the following action steps to ensure the safety of our employees and customers during the COVID-19 pandemic in accordance with OSHA and CDC recommendations:
Implement Basic Infection Prevention MeasuresFor Michigan Coronavirus/COVID-19 information and updates go to https://www.michigan.gov/Coronavirus
Tuscany As has been noted in all of our previous Wine Geek on the Road posts, it seems that most of the world’s great wine regions happen to be beautiful. Think Napa Valley, Santa Barbara, Stellenbosch, Central Otago, Piedmont…and Tuscany. Add to this (and/or because of this), wine tourism …
Clean Wine As if the whole Natural Wine thing doesn’t confuse people enough, the new allusions to ‘clean wine’ are also creating some questions and accusations. Avoiding the obvious fact that trolls tend to dominate the twitter-sphere these days, twitter blew up a few weeks ago when Actress Cameron Diaz—with …
The Shape of Things to Come: Restaurant Wine Sales Post-COVID The United States is the largest wine market in the world. This has been a long time coming. Of course, our position as the #1 wine market in the world in linked to our population: at about 330 million people, …
Those of us involved in the import wine business have endured a few months of agita this winter, which was reduced—but not eliminated—in February. In case some readers are not fully aware, here is the background: As a result of two separate trade spats between the U.S. and the E.U. …
RASPBERRY BRAMBLE The Classic Bramble is well documented as the crown queen of cocktails. This delicious concoction was created in London at Fred’s Club by bartender Dick Bradsell in 1984. The Bramble is straightforward Gin Sour with the addition of Crème de Mure. It is said that this drink was …
Natural wines continue to intrigue and—happily—are getting a little less ‘natural’ A few years ago—as the ‘Natural Wine’ thing was beginning to posit itself as part of the mainstream, not exactly an acolyte, Wine Geek offered his opinions: (https://www.glwas.com/blog/2016/emperors-new-clothes-natural-wine-taste-un-natural/) Fast forward to the winter of 2020, and the …
OAXACA OLD FASHIONED Though you will see the Oaxaca Old Fashioned showcased in cocktail bars across the country, bar keep Phil Ward at Death & Co. is credited for the original recipe. This is the drink that opened the American mixology world’s eyes to the potential of using tequila …
Paper Plane Cocktail The Paper Plane was created in 2007 by Sam Ross at Little Branch in New York City. A former bartender at the famous Milk & Honey, Ross opened Attaboy with Michael McIlroy in the bar’s old space. Sam is also credited for the well-known Penicillin cocktail. As …
Those reading this that aspire to get some industry credentials—Master of Wine, Certified Sommelier, Master Sommelier, Certified Wine Educator, WSET Level II and Level III to name some—are well aware that part of the process/testing to acquire such post-nominals requires a blind tasting component, in addition to the various multiple …
Geek assumes that those reading this are well aware that sake is way more than that scalding -hot stuff out of a bag-in-box at Benihana. Though that beverage has its place, it is not very similar to the premium sakes being produced in Japan today. Premium ‘Special Designation Sake’ …