I guess there is joy that is hard to explain, unless you really enjoy wines, when you open up the new carton from your wine club.  This particular club is Black Star Farms near Traverse City in the northern part of the lower peninsula.  Black Star Farms is rather unique in that they now have vineyards, facilities and tasting rooms on both peninsulas surrounding Traverse City, that is Leelanau Peninsula and Old Mission Peninsula; and both have their own AVA. 

Leelanau Peninsula is having two different events one in March and one in May to entice wine lovers to come and join the participating wineries for both events.  Old Mission Peninsula is celebrating Blossom Day on May 16, where they welcome Spring and they release the new wines all along the trail and the participating wineries there.  The good news is that they are feeling Spring Fever up in the wine country, as they had a relatively mild winter and they note that there is only six to eight inches of snow in the vineyards, which is good, as the ground stays cold for a little while longer and there is not even snow to cause in-row flooding during the thaw. 

Black Star Farms Arcturos Gruner Veltliner 2017 is the other wine that we have received.  The Arcturos label is their designation of their premium wines.  Gruner Veltliner is by far the signature grape of Austria and it is the most planted varietal there.  The wine is noted for its citrus nose, most notably lemon peel and grapefruit, complimented by tastes of stone fruits and a finish that evokes green and white pepper.  The wine tends to deliver freshness, crispness and the local terroir, some of the wineries in Austria also show some “spritz” as the wine is bottled so quickly.  This particular wine according to the winery is promising some notes of golden delicious apples and yellow plums, with some traces of grassiness and white pepper.  They suggest that it will be great with fish and white meats, but I think it sounds like it will be better with appetizers and great conversations.