Barry O’Brien moved back to Michigan after years in New York and bought his Old Mission land in 1999. He started as an importer, then took over the vineyard himself in 2019 and earned a viticulture degree from MSU. He farms four acres of Riesling, Pinot Noir, Gewurztraminer, and Pinot Gris. He dry farms, uses no herbicides, and works with seven foot rows and four feet between plants. He produces about five hundred cases a year and makes a sparkling Pinot Noir in cooler seasons. Join Barry at Wildfire Restaurant in downtown Chicago on August 11 for a Michigan Wine Dinner at the following link: wildfirerestaurant.com/chicago/w-b-s-events/best-of-michigan-wine-dinner

Learn more about his work with the Michigan Wine Collaborative: michiganwinecollaborative.com

Find O’Brien Vineyards on Facebook: facebook.com/obrienvineyards

Visit the O’Brien Vineyards website: obrien-vineyards.com

Contact Barry directly: obrienvineyards@gmail.com

© Steve Salisbury. Produced by Steve Salisbury. All rights reserved.

In this episode, I sit down with Lauren Kniebes for a lively conversation about marketing, labels, tasting room experiences, glassware, and the creative choices that shape Lazy Ballerina Winery. Lauren and her co‑owner Melanie grew up in Coloma, inspired by their grandmother’s homemade wines and the grapes grown on their family farm. That early spark led them into the Michigan wine industry and eventually to opening Lazy Ballerina Winery in 2015. Learn more at lazyballerinawinery.com or reach Lauren at lauren@lazyballerinawinery.com. This is the last of our 20 evergreen episodes prerecorded for release during my time in China.

© Steve Salisbury. Produced by Steve Salisbury. All rights reserved.

Sean O’Keefe joins me for the final episode in our five-part series on pioneers and trailblazers in Michigan wine. We explore the origins of vinifera in Northwest Michigan through the work of his father, Ed O’Keefe, founder of Chateau Grand Traverse, and the early support of Dr. Helmut Becker of Geisenheim. This episode was recorded last summer while Sean was still at Mari Vineyards. Sean can be reached at roninwinemaker@gmail.com. © Steve Salisbury. Produced by Steve Salisbury. All rights reserved.