Sweet Wine, but not from the Vine

February 27, 2013

If you thought the Big 400 Maple Festival was all kid’s stuff, think twice — Sandhill Crane Vinyards has a treat for maple lovers over the age of 21. The local vineyard is rolling out the current vintage of Sugar Snow, a limited edition dessert wine fermented and distilled not from grapes, but from local maple sap and syrup. The wine was inspired by an antique recipe discovered by Sandhill’s farmer neighbors, who now contribute the gallons of maple sap required to create this intriguing vino. “We don’t know if anybody else makes such a thing,” says Heather Price, executive director. “It’s sort of a fun, quirky little thing we do.” Sugar Snow will be available along with other sweets made from maple at the winery’s new cafe during the festival, including Sugar Snow Sorbet, a special collaboration with Zingerman’s Creamery. Free. Saturday, March 9 from 11-6pm. Sunday, March 10 from 12-6pm. Sandhill Crane Vineyard, 4724 Walz Rd., Jackson. 517-764-0679. www.sandhillcranevineyards.com. —JS