You can 'wine' in Burtka's class
Southern Michigan family turns 1870s schoolhouse into a modern winery
Mark Hensch
Issue date: 10/22/09 Section: Down The Hill
Drive down U.S.12 and three miles west of the Michigan International Speedway sits an 1870s schoolhouse. Surrounded by fields of ripening grapes, its still-functioning school bell no longer summons students but rather wine aficionados.
Converted into the Cherry Creek Winery, the old school is one of two vineyards owned by Hillsdale College sophomore Johnny Burtka's family.
"Wine has always been a hobby in my family," Burtka said. "We love wine and food and showing hospitality to others."
Burtka's father, John, said he opened the original Cherry Creek Winery in 2002 off Interstate 94 near Parma, Mich. It proved so successful, he said, that he obtained a second alcohol license and opened the U.S.12 winery, which now boasts 2,000 vines.
"You feel like you're somewhere else here," John said of the new winery. "You don't feel like you're on the Irish Hills on U.S.12. It is an escape and reasonably priced."
John said generations of Burtkas passed down the craft of winemaking, exposing him to the art at a young age.
John said he was astounded by a Best In Show victory from one of his De Chaunacs he entered into the 2001 Michigan State Fair. After this, he said, winemaking went from passion to profession.
Converted into the Cherry Creek Winery, the old school is one of two vineyards owned by Hillsdale College sophomore Johnny Burtka's family.
"Wine has always been a hobby in my family," Burtka said. "We love wine and food and showing hospitality to others."
Burtka's father, John, said he opened the original Cherry Creek Winery in 2002 off Interstate 94 near Parma, Mich. It proved so successful, he said, that he obtained a second alcohol license and opened the U.S.12 winery, which now boasts 2,000 vines.
How wine is made from Collegian Webeditor on Vimeo.
"You feel like you're somewhere else here," John said of the new winery. "You don't feel like you're on the Irish Hills on U.S.12. It is an escape and reasonably priced."
John said generations of Burtkas passed down the craft of winemaking, exposing him to the art at a young age.
John said he was astounded by a Best In Show victory from one of his De Chaunacs he entered into the 2001 Michigan State Fair. After this, he said, winemaking went from passion to profession.
Be the first to comment on this story