Peterson & Sons Winery

About

If you haven't tried wine made without the use of chemicals you haven't tried wine with true fruit taste and aroma. Imagine the taste and aroma of the fresh fruit, then you are close to what our wines smell and taste like. Peterson and Sons is one of the very few wineries in the world that makes wine without chemicals or preservatives.

Location Description

Located in the heart of Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Features

  • The first commercial winery in Michigan to produce wines with this old world process.

Additional Information

  • Meeting / Conference Facilities:
  • Caves:
  • Wedding Facilities:
  • Picnic Facilities:
  • Dog Friendly:
  • Winery Tours:
  • Wine Tasting:
  • Art or Architecture:
  • Organic / Biodynamic:
  • Awards:
  • Wine Club:
  • Lodging / Bed & Breakfast:

Winemaker

Duane Peterson - Winemaker

I started my first five gallons of Rhubarb wine in my basement in June 1982, and by October of 1982, I had several jugs of Cherry, Red Raspberry and some Concord and Delaware grape started. This was the meager start of what is now Peterson and Sons Winery with a total capacity of 20,000 gallons.

When I lost my job in March of 1983 at age 41, I couldn't find a job because I was too old and/or over-qualified, so I did a lot of fishing and talking with a retired neighbor. My neighbor, Norm, liked my wine and suggested that I make it to sell. Gradually, I thought more about his idea. I took some wine samples to a larger winery and had them checked out for the necessary government testing and they all passed with flying colors.

The winemaker suggested that I "go for it" so I studied the legal aspects of starting a winery at home. As it turned out, my basement met the A.T.F. requirements, so I submitted the forms to A.T.F. in September and received my license twenty-eight days later...just in time for our first major crush. My Dad, two sons, nephew and I picked the grapes and brought them home for crushing. We started 25 barrels of wine in October, 1983. In 1984, we expanded into the garage and in May 1988, we moved into our new 40'x84' winery. We still use the basement for tasting and sales and the garage for case goods.

Practices & Techniques

We use only the best, hand picked or sorted Michigan fruit, water, sugar and yeast, plus a lot of time and personal care. Our wines will keep and age once opened if kept below 70° F. Because no chemicals are used to kill anything, CO2 gas can result several months after bottling, so please store the bottles upright and at a constant temperature of 55° to 70° and out of sunlight. We use synthetic corks so you don't have to store bottles on their sides.

Awards

Peterson wines have won 9 awards in the International Eastern Wine Competition held at Watkins Glen, New York, including a gold in 1985 for our rhubarb-raspberry. We have also won a gold for our cranberry at the Indiana State Fair. Our cranberry also won two bronze in New York and a bronze at the 1990 National Orange Show in California.

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Hours

Tasting Room Open Year Round We do not have regular walk-in business hours. Please call ahead for an appointment. Appointments require a minimum purchase of six bottles.

Address

9375 East P Avenue
Kalamazoo, Michigan 49048
United States

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