Lake Michigan Shore AVA
Lake Michigan Shore AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in southwest Michigan. Located in the state's traditional "fruit belt", Lake Michigan Shore AVA is the oldest modern commercial grape region of the state and home to a majority of Michigan vineyards and half of the state wine grape production. Vineyards in the region date back to 1867.The AVA boundaries include the smaller Fennville AVA and extend as far as inland from the lakeshore; however, the climate and glacial moraine soils are relatively similar throughout. The "lake effect" off of Lake Michigan tempers the northern climate. Lake Michigan Shore AVA has a warmer growing season, as much as two weeks longer than the only other Michigan AVAs, Leelanau Peninsula AVA, and Old Mission Peninsula AVA, both of which are in Northern Michigan. The hardiness zone is 6a except near enough to Lake Michigan in Berrien County where it is 6b.
