Michigan

Lake Michigan Shore

Chambourcin

Deep ruby red color. Aromas of sweet black cherry, blueberry and a hint of cocoa are lifted by the 20% alcohol content of the wine. The sweet, rich palate is redolent of ripe, dark plums and cherries..



Mirage

United States

White Pine Winery & Vineyards

Traminette

Pinot Noir

Merlot Reserve

Cabernet Franc Sophies Vineyard

Pinot Grigio

Riesling Reserve

White Expression

Muscat Ottonel

Red Expression

Effervescence Reserve

Chardonnay Reserve

Dry Riesling

Teroldego Reserve

Ice Wine

Serendipity Reserve

Cabernet Franc Reserve

Dune Shadow Red

Lady Slipper Rose

Sandy and Dave Miller love the State of Michigan and have made a commitment to spend their time and effort here to produce world class wines for all to enjoy. Dave grew up in and around South Bend, Indiana where he learned to love the great outdoors and the natural world that surrounds us. During his Baccalaureate studies, Dave worked on a BS in Biology with a specialty in Plant Ecology and Botany at BallStateUniversity. Upon graduation in 1982, unable to find meaningful work near home during the great “Rust Belt Recession” he decided to move to Colorado and enjoy the winter working at a ski resort. It was during this Ski Bum period that Dave discovered the popularity of wine among the skiers who frequented the slopes in SummitCounty. A light bulb went on and Dave decided to continue his studies with pursuit of a MS degree in the Horticulture Department at Michigan State University. He worked with the legendary Dr. Stan Howell who is one of the preeminent viticulturists in North America. Dave fell under Stan’s spell and accepted a job as his technician upon completion of his MS degree which focused on grapevine cold hardiness. During the next twelve years Dave produced the research wines at Spartan Cellar’s, MSU’s research winery, and managed the research plots, and graduate student projects with Stan. The last four years of Dave’s tenure at MSU culminated in his PhD degree which he earned while working as Stan’s technician. Dave’s PhD focused on grapevine photosynthesis and how crop level influenced fruit and wine quality.
Dave looked for a position as a grapevine research scientist but none were available. A position was offered from ClemsonUniversity for a peach tree researcher and then came the offer from St. Julian for an assistant winemaker. The decision to leave academia was difficult but Dave’s love of grapes and wine prevailed and he accepted the challenge of raising the status of Southwest Michigan’s grape and wine industry through his work as a winemaker and viticulturist at Michigan’s oldest and largest winery. Change comes slowly in the wine industry. One must wait four years after planting a vineyard for the first crop, then another 6 months to bottle white wines and another 12 to 18 months to bottle reds. However there was great interest in and support for his work at the winery and the changes came, slowly at first, then with increasing speed. The awards given to wines produced from new plantings made under Dave’s direction were numerous.
During the second year of their life in Lawton with Dave at St. Julian, Sandy and Dave had their first and only child, Sophie. They enjoyed raising Sophie in the country while growing grapes and making wine. The family life suited them all and the pace gave Dave time to continue working on improving the grapes and wines at St. Julian. A vineyard was planted by Dave and Sandy in 1999 called “Sophie’s Vineyard” in honor of their daughter. The vineyard became the backbone of the Braganini Reserve Riesling produced by Dave at St. Julian.
Now the Miller’s have begun the next leg of their journey in Southwestern Michigan’s grape and wine scene with the opening of White Pine Winery and Vineyards. Dave’s dream has been to continue pushing the envelope for wine quality in Michigan’s beautiful southwest. Now he and Sandy’s dream is a reality! In addition to the fruit from Sophie’s vineyard, they are working with local growers to produce the wines that showcase the awesome climate and soils which are the source of their wonderful wines. Dave’s philosophy is to let the vineyards express themselves in his wines with as little intervention as possible. He also is a firm believer in using sustainable principles in grape production so vineyard practices use the latest methods to reduce the impact on the environment. Using this approach allows the vines to express the unique qualities of each vineyard site in the wines. White Pine’s goal is to produce wines from Michigan’s Great Southwest to showcase the regions wonderful vineyards.
During White Pine’s start-up, Dave worked with other wineries to produce his wines until the winery in Lawton could be fully equipped. This relationship is known as a “Custom Crush” where a winemaker produces his or her wines in another facility with extra capacity. Beginning with the 2016 vintage, Dave began crushing grapes at the winery in Lawton. The first vintage saw the introduction of 2 new wines: Ladyslipper Blush, a dry rose' made from Chambourcin grapes, and; Mirage, a sweet, fortified dessert wine also made from Chambourcin grapes. Dave also produced Merlot and Cabernet franc in the first vintage at the Home Farm. He plans to continue producing reds and slowly working into white wine production as the facility grows. As of the 2019 vintage, Dave is producing barrel-fermented Chardonnay, Pinot grigio and Muscat Ottonel with plans to add capacity for the 2020 vintage. There are experimental wines produced in cooperation with Daddy Long Legs Vineyards of Benzonia, MI, including Teroldego and Borealis - a blend of Marquette, Teroldego and Cabernet Franc.
The ultimate goal is to have a tasting room at the winery where our friends and customers can enjoy a glass of wine at the source! We know you will love it as much as we do. The planned opening for the tasting room is in 2021 so stay tuned!

Cabernet Franc

Cabernet Sauvignon

Cayuga White

Chardonnay

De Chaunac

Marechal Foch

Merlot

Riesling

Rougeon

Seyval Blanc

Teroldego

Vidal Blanc

Vignoles

White

A cross with Gewurztraminer, Traminette shows off with intense aromas of apricot, orange zest and honeysuckle like its well-known parent.  The flavors pop with a hint of sweetness that leads to a satisfyingly long finish.  

Bright Ruby color. Aromas of berry, cinnamon and allspice with a dry medium-to-full body and a medium-to-long cherry, vanilla, mocha and berry finish. A structured, new world Pinot noir.

Rich aromas of dark cherries, brambleberries and allspice are followed by a velvety soft, rich palate.  Aging in oak barrels for 12 months integrates and softens this wine into something truly 

Berry, spice and silky tannins. Hints of dark cherry, sandalwood and clove on the finish. 

Enjoy a taste of autumn and savor aromas of honeydew melon, pear and apple. Crisp acidity compliments the flavors and refreshes with each sip

Bright, straw color. Aromas of apricot, peach and green apple followed with stone fruits and lovely mineral / wet stone on the palate. Medium dry with a crisp, satisfying finish.

White Blend

Lovely aromas of peach, melon and honeysuckle dominate this wine. Delicate flavors of apple, pear and mango are supported by crisp acidity leading to a long, satisfying finish that begs for another sip. Our White Expression is an excellent accompaniment to traditional fare, spicy fare such as Asian cuisine. 

Orange zest, peach and lemon, with a crisp grapefruit acidity finish.

Marechal Foch-De Chaunac Blend

Red Expression is the perfect wine for any occasion.  Loaded with intense aromas of raspberries, dark cherries and plums. The palate is silky smooth highlighting the bright fruit flavors.  Pair with everyday foods like pasta, chili or your favorite grilled dishes.

This Blanc de blanc starts with a aromas of green apple, pear and complex yeast notes followed by a creamy mousse and crisp, refreshing finish. Delightful for any occasion, enjoy with friends over summer salads and light fare or to celebrate another the day!  

Bright flavors of green apple, lemon curd and fig supported by a crisp acidity in this French style Chardonnay.

Granny Smith apples, peaches and pear aromas and flavors with a hint of lime zest. This drier style of the classic Riesling wine compliments just about any kind of lighter cuisine.  

Plum, truffle and cigar box with a hint of lavender and vanilla. Full bodied.

Sweet

The classic dessert wine produced from grapes naturally frozen in the vineyard in the old-world tradition.  Intense aromas and flavors of honey, pineapple and apricot dance in an amber liquid more like nectar than wine.  This is dessert in a glass that you want to savor sip, by sip.  An ethereal experience you won’t forget!

Merlot Blend

Fruit from Cabernet sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc was used to create this blend.  
Blackberry and dark cherry aromas lead with hints of vanilla, chocolate and cedar.  The palate is rich and bursting with dark fruits supported by firm tannins and just enough acidity for balance and age-ability.  Enjoy with beef, lamb or a for a special occasion.

Aromas and flavors of blueberry and dark cherry fruit with hints of allspice and sandalwood. “Sweet” and soft tannins with a good mid-palate and long finish.

Intense dark cherry, brambleberry and plum aromas are followed by a mosaic of flavors. 

Rosé

Winemaking Data
Harvested late September, the Fall rains seemed relentless and dropped the brix of the Chambourcin. The grapes were destemmed, crushed and pressed immediately after harvest allowing for the vibrant red grapes to become a beautiful dry Rosé. 

Tasting Notes
Tart cherry and strawberry aromas lead to a medium-bodied palate of northern fruits.


Michigan

White Pine Winery & Vineyards

2024

Mirage

Lake Michigan Shore

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