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A Great Lakes Wine Destination

October

2026

Have you heard of the Lake Erie AVA in the northeast part of the United States? Did you know that it is a historic wine-producing region that nobody really knows or talks about?

In fact, it is the largest AVA east of the Rocky Mountains. Its boundaries extend to parts of New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania, with over 40,000 acres planted to vineyards (see wine map).

Established in 1983, it is the only American AVA that spans multiple states. The total size is 3,495 square miles and over 40,000 acres of vineyards across three states. Growers here cultivate a diverse range of grape varieties, including native, hybrid and vinifera resulting in wines produced in a variety of styles.

As expected, the area features a cool continental climate with four seasons. Most of the Lake Erie AVA follows the Lake Erie shoreline of the Great Lake and also includes islands off the shore.

There are two sub-AVAs contained within it – Grand River Valley AVA and Isle St. George AVA. Lake Erie moderates the temperature by retaining heat into the fall season and extends the growing season allowing grapes to reach peak ripeness.

The ancient glacial soils of limestone and loam greatly help with water drainage. The winds coming off of Lake Erie is also a key to success here by circulating cool air in the vineyards and keeping them dry. This significantly reduces disease pressure limiting the need for spraying and vineyard management.

The climate moderation from the lake along with recent increasingly warm temperatures due to climate change means that growers are having success planting different varieties previously difficult to work with. Historically, native and hybrid grapes were mostly planted in the AVA, but more vinifera plantings have found to be thriving, such as Riesling, Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc.

Concord makes up about 40% of the wine production and for jams and jellies (Welch’s is a major producer in this region). Other varieties that are being produced include Lemberger aka Blaufrankisch, Teroldego (Italian vinifera), Seyval Blanc, Chambourcin and Baco Noir both (French American red hybrids).

Because of the range of grapes grown throughout this very large AVA, there is no one signature style. This allows producers to get creative and experiment. One of the lesser-known grape varieties being utilized in the region is Noiret, a black hybrid grape variety. Noiret (nwahr-AY) is often described as having a Syrah-like character with its inky-dark pigment, peppery notes, medium body and ability to age well.

Lake Erie has been planting grapes and producing wine since the early 1800s. Like all wine-producing regions in the United States, Prohibition had a devastating impact and like many regions, this region had a long uphill climb. The climate and conditions can be unpredictable. There are currently a little more than 20 wineries within the AVA.

(Image courtesy of Mazza Vineyards)

Mazza Family of Wine

One of the wine destinations I am spotlighting here is Mazza Vineyards, which includes South Shore Wine Company and Mazza Chautauqua Cellars/Five & 20 Spirits and Brewing, all within the Lake Erie AVA.

Robert Mazza, co-founder of Mazza Vineyards, for over fifty years has been growing the Mazza business originating in NW PA and the PA Wine industry as an ambassador since 1972. Mazza Vineyards, nestled along the shores of Lake Erie, is the Mazza family’s flagship location. The winery was founded and built in a rustic, Mediterranean style serving as tribute to the family’s Italian roots.

Drawing inspiration, experience, and technique from a lineage of international winemakers hailing from Germany, Portugal, Argentina, and beyond, their clean, experimental New World approach to winemaking has resulted in a fascinating wine list that ranges from crisp and pristine to robust and fruit-forward.

Here is a brief history lesson from Robert. He notes a few things helped put Pennsylvania on the map. The first was a change in regulations. Then came the awards.

“In 2024, the Decanter World Wine Awards, there were eighteen thousand wines submitted from fifty-seven countries. Only twenty gold medals were handed out. And we won for our Rosé. We produced it from a French American grape hybrid. It’s not purely European or American variety, which is unusual for a Rosé. This was the first time a Pennsylvania winery has ever won gold at the Decanter awards. It has put Pennsylvania back on the map.”

Today, Pennsylvania, is known primarily for its Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Riesling. A Mazza Vineyards, fresh juice from Pennsylvania grapes is in demand from winemakers across the country and the world. This brings joy to me because I was born and raised in PA. I’m proud of how far the PA wine industry has come even since I left to join the NY wine ranks in 2019. If you decide to visit the region, you have access to many awesome wineries in NYS as well.

Other locations within the Mazza family –

South Shore Wine Company is locally known for its historic stone cavern tasting room. Built in the 1860s in the style of traditional French wine caverns, the stone cellar is a unique (and Instagrammable!) setting for sipping some of our region’s most toast-worthy wines.

A robust selection of bubbly, made in traditional, contemporary, and experimental methods, pays homage to the region’s storied history of sparkling wines. Equally festive are a trio of delicately sweet bottles as well as a collection of lesser known, but entirely impressive emerging varietals.

Mazza Chautauqua Cellars might be their family’s third location in the Lake Erie AVA, but it’s the first of its kind in New York State. Sharing a home with our sister distillery and brewery, Five & 20 Spirits and Brewing, its signature patio space is an appropriately laid-back setting to enjoy the beverage of your choice.

The wine list here is an intentional curation of bottles that pay homage to the agricultural bounty that surrounds us, including refined European varietals and easy-sipping native varietals.

Lake Erie Wine Country is located about two hours north of Pittsburgh, and there are a dozen wineries around the city of North East, PA (often confusing because Erie is in the NW corner of the state).

Check out the wineries in the Lake Erie AVA and travel across 3 states. Many of them are open all-year round and have accommodations during the winter season. Just a little over 3 hours from Central NY.

To learn more about them, their wine portfolio, events, hours, and other exceptional wines, visit them at enjoymazza.com and Instagram @mazzawines. Below is info about their award-winning international rosé.

Do you like to learn about unique and unexplored wine regions and winery destinations? Keep following for more….

South Shore Wine Company “The Perfect Rosé”
Enchantingly dry, crisp, and refreshing, enjoy the award-winning The Perfect Rosé for a happily ever after(noon). Gently pressed Chambourcin grapes give this wine a hint of color, delicate berry flavors, and crisp acidity. which make for a refreshing rosé wine.

92 points / “Best Buy” – Wine Enthusiast

Featured in “The Best American Wines to Enjoy This Labor Day and Beyond” by Wine Enthusiast

93 points/Gold – BTI / NY Wine Classic

95 points/Gold – Decanter World Wine Awards 2024

90 points/Silver – Decanter World Wine Awards 2025

Featured in “US rosé to beat the summer heat” by Decanter

Best Rosé – 2023 PA Sommelier Judgment

Cheers,

Michael Nagy

michael.troy.nagy@gmail.com

717.877.2729

Test Market for My New Wine Book

October

2026

by Michael Nagy

Hello followers and subscribers,

I am excited to announce that I am writing a new book. This will be my second published work. My first book titled “The Cocktail Revolution: Journey of a Liquid Chef” was published in 2020 during the height of the pandemic with a small publishing house.

The book was an informative dive into bartending, bar culture and cocktails with commentary and storytelling. It was a fun pet project which turned into a nice coffee table, reference guide for those in the industry as well as for newbies wanting to learn cool things for home bartending.

For my new book project, I am hoping to gage your interests and test the market for what people want to read. I am taking a more studious approach to this book, bigger marketing and publishing company, and want it to be wildly successful. The content of the book will be wine-focused, but beyond that, it is an open book, excuse the pun! There are many different wine topics of interest to me, but the most important aspect to consider is you, the audience.

Below you will find many of my ideas for the book. One of the biggest decisions to make is to write fiction or non-fiction. Fiction can be more challenging and time consuming but would offer more storytelling and entertainment value instead of just facts; more novel-like and creative narrative. Non-fiction writing is essentially about telling and fiction is about showing.

I will write future blog stories incorporating some of these book ideas to help you better understand what it would look like.

Book Idea #1 –

Travel Writing/Travelogue. Subjective, immersive descriptions of places, cultures, wine/culinary experiences, practices combined with personal reflection and personal narrative, stories, feelings, and sensory experiences drawn from this immersion.

Book Idea #1b (non-fiction) –

Wine Tourism for the Experiential Traveler. Wine enthusiasts no longer just want to sit in a sterile tasting room; they want immersive storytelling. A travel-centric wine book highlighting hyper-local culture, architecture, and customized vineyard experiences hits a growing travel niche.

Book Idea #2 (fiction and non-fiction) –

Wine Fiction & Narrative. Winery Thrillers, Mysteries, Satire: Wine fiction is carving out a prominent space. Corporate takeovers, global trade scandals, billionaire wine fraud, or light-hearted harvest-season romances that educate readers on the backend mechanics of wine while delivering a gripping plot. Fictitious characters and stories.

Book Idea #3 (non-fiction) –

Climate change and modern cartography are shifting traditional boundaries, creating the “new wine map” where cooler regions emerge as premier producers while traditional strongholds adapt to rising temperatures.

Book Idea #4 (non-fiction) –

The Changing Global Wine Belt, Northern Europe Countries establishing vibrant commercial wine industries. Growing cool-climate grapes. Cool-climate regions historically too cold for consistent ripening are now thriving wine destinations.

Traditional Regions face severe pressures from extreme heat, drought, and wildfires, prompting warmer-region adaptations like Bordeaux’s approval of heat-tolerant grapes.

Book Idea #5 (non-fiction and fiction) –

Wine journey to rare, off-the-beaten path wine locations, villages, communes, regions, wineries, vineyards around the world. Facts about them, the people inhabiting them, wine people, winemakers, owners, viticulturists, places to visit, wines, local/native and hybrid grapes, vinifera, etc… The fiction are the conversations, individual happenings/adventures in context of what goes on there with real peopke, but fictional names.

If any of these book ideas jump out to you, please let me know under comments, email, text, or Instagram. If you have a book idea not listed, please share as well. I would also ask you to share with others who like wine or like to read wine-type books by sharing the link on this site and from post on Instagram in a few days. I will also upload the blog post on Instagram and email clients and contacts.

Would you be interested in a new Instagram page dedicated to the book???

I am also doing research on Amazon and Bookreads for reviews and ratings. Bookreads has a neat feature where you can see the number of people interested in reading and buying a specific book.

Thank you for your time and input. I truly appreciate it. I would love to hear from you, my friends!

Cheers,

Michael Nagy

michael.troy.nagy@gmail.com

717.877.2729

Wine of the Week: A Rare Red from Veneto

September

2026

by Michael Nagy

For this week’s edition of my ‘Wine of the Week’, I present to you a 100% Cabernet Franc from northeastern Italy in Veneto, Tenuta Mosole Cabernet Franc DOC Venezia 2024, which I recently stumbled upon on a recent visit to a new wine shop.

Are you a Cabernet Franc fan? Have you ever tasted one from Italy? Do you like Italian reds, medium-bodied reds, or under-the-radar reds? Follow along if you would like to explore different Cab Francs

Because you don’t typically hear about the cool-climate Cab Franc grape from Italia, I was immediately intrigued. It is not too uncommon in the Veneto region as it is in other wine regions of Italy because of the cooler weather, climate conditions, topography, and unique microclimate.

As I mentioned in previous posts, I am always on the hunt for great value wines and hidden gems from across the globe and this fits the bill. This Cab Franc retails at just under $20 USD in Central NY and available online (it is a little over $20 on some sites). An excellent price for an Italian red with a DOC classification and from a reputable producer. Give it a search!

Veneto’s diverse landscapes, rich vinicultural heritage, and proximity to Venice and Adriatic Sea make it a remarkable wine destination. The region is often celebrated for its exceptional wines, including the elegant Soave, the full-bodied Amarone, and the refreshing Prosecco.

You can visit the iconic vineyards of Valpolicella, the serene hills of Conegliano-Valdobbiadene, and the charming countryside of Colli Euganei, where local wineries invite you to indulge in unforgettable tastings. In addition, you can experience the unique blend of culture, history, and gastronomy that Veneto has to offer.

Veneto is nestled in northeast Italy and famed for its iconic Prosecco alongside a diverse array of indigenous grape varietals such as Garganega (Soave) and Corvina (Valpolicella and Amarone). It is home to historic winemaking traditions, picturesque vineyards, and ancient villages.

The Veneto wine region accounts for approximately 18% of all the DOC wine in Italy, which ranks in the top three of all regions in Italy.

The Mosole Cabernet Franc is produced in the Lison-Pramaggiore DOC, a unique region of the Venetian plain that overlaps eastern Veneto and western Friuli whose wine production predates Roman times. The Cab Franc vines arrived there at the beginning of the 19th century, immediately becoming a fine wine in the territory.

The characteristic note of hay and black pepper together with the soft tannins on the palate make it an unmistakable wine. The vineyards contribute aromatic compounds and minerality to the wines produced here.

The smokey character of this Veneto Cab Franc can be referred to as ‘Chinon Italiano’, because it tastes like it was produced from Chinon in the Loire Valley of France, a classic CF wine region and home to some of the best CF in the world. Who would have guessed that they would share similar traits?

Its appearance is ruby red with violet hues. The aromas are pleasant with diverse spices and sweet smoke, a basket of red berries, and that typical vegetal nuance, like green pepper.

The palate is driven by more red berry fruit, red currant and dark cherry, with hints of that infamous bell pepper. Crispy black fruit punctuated by fresh herbs and minerality. A full and fruit-forward flavor, medium acidity, soft, medium tannins, well balanced, and a lingering finish.

A stellar pairing for roasted vegetables, roasted meats, like lamb and wild game, barbeque dishes, vegetarian pizza, and charcuterie.

The maceration on the skins is for an average of 8 to 10 days. Fermented in temperature-controlled cement tanks between 24 to 26°C (74 to 76°F) followed by maturation for nine months in cement tanks. The aging potential is 5-7 years till 2029-2031. Serve the wine slightly below room temp at 60-65°F (not too warm).

Tenuta Mosole also produces other reds, like worldly Merlot, Cab Franc/Carmenere blend, Rosso, and traditional whites of Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Sauvignon, local whites, Roses, Prosecco, and Brut. Find them online at Winery: IGT and Lison DOC wines in Venice Mosole estate | Mosole and Instagram @tenutamosole. Keep in mind that those sites are in Italian so you will need to translate.

Cheers & Saluti,

Michael Nagy

For questions, feedback, submit a topic, or inquiries, use new email – michael.troy.nagy@gmail.com or DM on Instagram.

Wine of the Week: A Little-Known Pinot from Napa

September

2026

by Michael Nagy

Though Napa Valley has historically been known for its luscious Cabernet Sauvignon, in the early days that followed Prohibition in Napa, many premium producers tried their hand at Pinot Noir and were fairly successful.

Because very few top Pinot Noir producers remain from the region, not too many vineyards dedicated to growing Pinot, and the onslaught of Cabernet, you don’t really hear about them. Traditionally, most of Napa Valley was considered too hot for this fickle, thin-skinned grape.

The Pinot Noir that I recently tasted and featuring here is from the Monterey AVA in California. Located in one of the largest American Viticultural Areas, the Monterey AVA runs from the Monterey Bay to the border with Paso Robles.

The cooling fog that rolls in from Monterey Bay each morning, combined with dramatic diurnal temperature shifts and diverse soil compositions, allows grapes to develop intense flavors while maintaining the bright natural acidity that defines world-class Pinot Noir.

With the cool maritime influence, chilling fog and strong afternoon breezes roll in from the Pacific Ocean and the Salinas Valley, creating an ideal cool climate for Pinot Noir. It is one of the most diverse in terms of climatic make-up and types of grapes grown. The most important factor for all farmers in the appellation is their location in relation to the chilly waters of the Pacific Ocean.

What distinguishes Monterey County Pinot Noir from other regions, including California’s Sonoma, Alexander Valley, and Carneros, is its distinctive balance and vibrant red fruit notes dancing between cherry and cranberry, underscored by earthy minerality and subtle spice elements. typically features bright acidity, structured tannins, and rich dark or red fruit flavors balanced by a distinct mineral quality.

The Chasing Lions Pinot Noir from Nine North Wine Company (pictured) is a red wine that showcases the best of California Pinot. The Monterey vineyard features a unique microclimate, with cool ocean breezes and well-drained soils, which contribute to the wine’s distinct character.

The winemaking process involves gentle handling of the grapes, allowing the delicate flavors and aromas to shine through. The result is a beautifully balanced wine with notes of ripe red berries, subtle spice, and a silky-smooth texture.

The Chasing Lions Pinot Noir is elegant and refined. It displays a beautiful ruby color enticing the senses with its vibrant appearance. On the nose, this wine offers a bouquet of red fruits, such as cherry and raspberry, accompanied by subtle vanilla notes from the interplay of oak.

The acidity provides a refreshing and lively mouthfeel, while the medium body adds to its overall elegance. The palate has a silky texture with delicate tannins and showcases flavors of ripe strawberries, dark raspberry, cranberries, some Bing cherry, and a hint of spice creating a harmonious and well-balanced profile.

The minerality and hints of oak, chocolate, and coffee complement without the heavy mouthfeel and fuller body.

From the Vintner – “This Pinot Noir opens with ripe cherries, orange peel, violets and black figs. True to form, the
balanced, “pinot noir” spice comes through vividly in this wine and is layered with slight flavors of oak, vanilla bean, cinnamon and clove.”

It is very versatile with a variety of dishes and pairs well with meat and vegetables, including roasted vegetables, grilled chicken, or pork tenderloin, but is also excellent drank on its own.

It is aged for 6 months in French, American & Hungarian oak with a 13.5% ABV. Ideally, drink now through November 2026.

It is a 90 points “Best Buy” from Wine Enthusiast and under $20 USD. Grab it when you can because the 2024 vintage may be sold out soon and it’s reaching its peak. I picked up this bottle in Camillus, NY, but widely available in other locations and online.

I liked it very much. I’m always on the hunt for under-the-radar and value wines that won’t break the bank, Any good, inexpensive quality red wine coming out of Napa that is not a Cabernet is music to my ears.

If you enjoyed this post and would like to see more this, please give it a thumbs up. I’m a Pinot Noir fanatic so I would be happy to share more PN recommendations and all wine.

(Cover photo from foggy Monterey, California vineyards)

Cheers & Sante,

Michael Nagy

Note: my email address, michael@michaelpour.com, is currently inactive so send all emails to michael.troy.nagy@gmail.com

Business Update: What’s Happening at “The Michael Pour”

September

2026

by Michael Nagy

Welcome to all my new subscribers! Thank you for joining this fun community!

Just a quick word on how all this works. You can subscribe to the weekly newsletter of “The Pour” for free by simply entering your email on the homepage. We don’t SPAM! What that means is that I DON’T share your email with others. When you sign up voluntarily, you will be automatically be sent a new blog post when it goes live. That’s it!

I don’t publicly list your email on my site, nor do I gather emails and input them into my site. If you decide to unsubscribe, that is fine! It’s easy to do on the email you receive. I don’t go after you and try to convince you to come back. If you find that the content isn’t your thing, then it’s all good. It’s not offensive material! On occasion, there may be more than one post per week, but that is rare.

The Michael Pour is currently experiencing some changes. Although the content will still be beverage-focused, i.e. wine, cocktails, spirits, mocktails, etc… there will be some content about beverages as it relates to the fashion, culture, lifestyle, and business world.

As I network and pursue collaborations with companies, small businesses, advertising companies, and creative campaigns, there may be promotional content related to brands, trends, and other pursuits on the local and regional level. The Michael Pour is essentially delving into all kinds of things. This is new and very exciting!

I recently became aware of a cool and new international vodka campaign going on in Central NY in collaboration with a local boutique called “Stiletto Love Boutique” in downtown Syracuse. Owner Mike is an awesome dude and has some really interesting stuff going on. When this occurs, there is an opportunity to do tastings, marketing events, promotions, and sharing what’s up and coming and trending. This particular boutique specializes in digital and print media in fashion, cultural trends, and liquor brands.

They would like to do more things with wine, local wine, wine distributors, and local wineries along with the liquor brands, which is where I come in. I hope to do some community and in-boutique events with them for this campaign and others in the future. I’ve been following them for some time and encourage you to look them up on Instagram under the same name. As a result of all this, I may also have the opportunity to serve as a fashion model agent for a local model whom I’m very close with 😉

You will continue to see the typical posts coming from this blog. I am always looking for ideas about topics you want to read about or learn more about. Submit your ideas on here under comments, send an email listed below, or DM on Instagram. You will see a link to their page under my bio. Keep an eye out for shares on my page.

Later this week, I hope to taste this new worldly vodka I mentioned above. When I do, I will put together a post about it.

(Cover photo courtesy of Stiletto Love Boutique, Syracuse, NY. Liquor & Fashion)

Cheers,

Michael Nagy

michael@michaelpour.com

Tag: the michael pour

A Great Lakes Wine Destination

Test Market for My New Wine Book

Wine of the Week: A Rare Red from Veneto

Wine of the Week: A Little-Known Pinot from Napa

Business Update: What’s Happening at “The Michael Pour”

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