Born April 20, 1942 – Lansing, MI Education High School Diploma – Charlotte High School Baccalaureate – Central Michigan University Graduate Work – Michigan State University Years Farming Bob has farmed his entire life, with breaks for schooling. Years Working With Fenn Valley Bob has been selling grapes to Fenn Valley since 1999, and is […]
Archive | Vineyards
2015 Vintage Update – November
As another gorgeous Michigan fall draws to a close, we are breathing a collective sigh of relief as another harvest is in the books. As winemakers, there is a certain comfort in knowing all the fruit is “under the roof.” So, the big question…how is the vintage? As with most questions in grape growing and […]
Wine Labels 101
Wine labels in the United States are highly regulated – even more so than food labels. As a result they often contain confusing information for consumers. Much of what appears on the wine label is regulated by the Federal Government. In fact, each and every label is approved – even those imported from other countries. […]
How do we pick the grapes?
It is one of the most common questions around the tasting room and on tours. And for good reason…there isn’t a real quick answer. Generally speaking there are two methods of getting the fruit off the vines – hand picking and machine harvesting. In 2012 we hand harvested somewhere around 70% of the vineyards. […]
Haze in Sauvignon Blanc 2013
Last spring we wrote an article, “A Winemaker’s Dilemma”, wherein we commented on some of the decisions facing a winemaker; and how achieving clarity and stability often means sacrificing some aspect of quality in the process. We spoke specifically about this year’s Sauvignon Blanc, and how there was a slight chance that a protein haze […]
Vine Wine’d Marriage Proposal
Putting on a new event is always full of surprises. The Vine Wine’d was no exception. Hosting a trail run for 700 people followed by a huge party was almost like cramming two events into one day. But in the end it was totally worth it. The Vine Wine’d is here to stay. Just when […]
Sunflowers in the Vineyards
If you had an opportunity to visit Fenn Valley this August, you saw acres and acres of sunflowers. Mixed in the forest of sunflower stalks was another thigh high plant covered with white blooms – buckwheat. This buckwheat/sunflower mix is a part of our effort to prepare 15 acres of ground for future vineyard plantings. […]
The History of Fenn Valley
June 8, 2013 marks the 40th anniversary of Fenn Valley Vineyards. It was on that day that the Welsch family arrived on the farm and took possession of the land now known as Fenn Valley Vineyards. What was the dream of the founder, Bill Welsch, was about to become a reality. This issue of the […]
