DRINK: Red Hat Micro-Winery

24601 Jefferson
St. Clair Shores
586.445.4848
redhatwine.com
 
Detroit to Sonoma Valley: eight-hour flight. Detroit to Traverse City: four-hour drive. Your home to the Red Hat Micro-Winery in St. Clair Shores: half-hour drive, tops. So, what’s keeping local oenophiles from experiencing Detroit’s only micro-winery? “Not everyone knows we’re here or what we do,” says manager Matt Nickel. “But we know everything there is to know about wine and help people make the kinds of wine that they like best.”
            There are no vineyards growing on Jefferson Avenue; Red Hat imports grape juice that have been cultivated from around the world and allows its customers to customize their own personal wines, complete with specialty label. Nickel says it’s particularly popular with wedding parties and for people looking to find a unique holiday present.
            Or, if you prefer just drinking wine to making it, Red Hat has a whole series of house wines to tempt every wine taste, from sweet blush to robust red. Winery tastings of seven or more people can be scheduled for $5.95 a person. You’ll get six different wines, and one of Red Hat’s resident experts will guide you through each tasting, discussing flavors, textures and each of the wine’s distinct characteristics. My group was a big fan of the Nebbiolo ($11.99), which is grown in Italy, as well as the Australian Shiraz ($11.99), which has a leathery smokiness to it. Cheers!