WaterFire Vineyards - Torch Lake Winery

Climate Change Presents a Critical Juncture for Midwestern Winemakers | Eater

"Founded after the owners purchased a 26-acre farm in 2009, this small estate farms about 10 acres of riesling, sauvignon blanc, and Grüner Veltliner on land sandwiched between Lake Michigan and Torch Lake; the nearby bays moderate temperatures and lengthen seasonal transitions, helping the grapes ripen. The operation emphasizes sustainability—minimizing air and water impacts, conserving energy and soil, recycling, and using integrated pest management—and became the first Midwest vineyard to earn SIP certification in 2017. The owners view climate change as both an opportunity and a threat: warmer, longer seasons can improve ripening and reputation, but increased rain, pests (like the spotted lanternfly), extreme winter events, and other erratic weather patterns pose serious risks that may force changes in varieties and vineyard practices." - Paola Rosa-Aquino