March 16 – Winemakers of North Berrien

Photo courtesy of karmavista.com

On Tuesday, March 16 at 7pm, the North Berrien Historical Museum will host “Winemakers of North Berrien,” a free presentation connecting local stories of agriculture from the past and present. Coloma winemakers Joe Herman (Karma Vista Vineyards and Winery) and Tony Peterson (Contessa Wine Cellars) will each discuss their family roots and their current work as pioneer winemakers in the area. The Herman family were among the earliest German settlers to begin farming in Bainbridge Township more than 150 years ago. Peterson is a third generation wine maker who apprenticed for years at his father’s Kalamazoo winery before founding his own in the hills of North Berrien.

These Coloma businesses are contributing to a recent statewide boom in the wine industry. In the last decade the number of wineries in Michigan has more than doubled, encouraged by dramatically increased sales as well as a slew of regional and international awards earned by Michigan wines. More than 800,000 people visit Michigan’s vineyards and wineries annually. In 2009 Governor Granholm proclaimed April as “Michigan Wine Month” to recognize and celebrate the industry’s importance in the state economy.

For more information about the wineries of North Berrien, visit www.karmavista.com and www.contessawinecellars.com. For more information about this program, call the North Berrien Historical Museum at (269) 468-3330.