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A brief history

Nestled within the Fennville AVA, our 40-acre estate vineyard stands as a testament to Michigan's burgeoning wine industry. As the state's inaugural AVA and the third
in the nation, Fennville symbolizes the rich potential of our terroir. At Modales, we meticulously cultivate our vineyards with a focus on terroir expression and regenerative practices. Over the past three years, we have transitioned to organic farming methods. Our commitment extends to employing innovative techniques such as employing sheep for weed control and utilizing composted winery waste to nourish our vineyards. Through diverse cover-cropping strategies and the elimination of chemical weed control, we prioritize soil health, biodiversity, and environmental resilience. Our dedication to sustainability permeates every aspect of our winemaking process. Native fermentation predominates, harnessing the natural microbiology present on our grapes to accentuate the unique terroir of our vineyards. With a gentle approach to fining and filtration, we safeguard the essence and personality of each wine. Embracing organic guidelines, we minimize sulfite usage during bottling and are actively developing sulfite-free options to push the boundaries of winemaking. At Modales, we aspire to redefine perceptions of Michigan wine, challenge convention and elevate expectations.
Modales Logo

2128 62nd Street
United States
49408-9407

modaleswines.com

marketing@modaleswines.com

+12697223505

Meet The Team

  • Andrew Backlin

    Originally from Lake County in Northern California, Andrew worked in wine production under mentor, Jed Steele of Steele Wines as well with the Duckhorn Portfolio. After realizing that working for a brand making over 2 million cases wasn't what he wanted to do, he found himself in Michigan. Owners of Modales, Jim & Carol Gonzalez had purchased a vineyard & began selling their grapes to other wineries. After realizing that they could be making wine from their grapes, Andrew helped make the first release of Modales in 2016 . Working with over 15 grape varieties such as Riesling, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, newly planted Gamay, experimental plantings of Petit Manseng & Tannat to name a few, Andrew is steadily pushing the boundaries of Michigan wine. In a recent article by Dorothy Gaiter & John Brecher Andrew says that the Gonzalezes give him "Carte Blanche" to create terroir driven, low intervention wines that show the excellence that is possible from Michigan grown grapes.

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