As most of you know, I’m a Saginaw guy. Being toward the middle of the sunrise side, I don’t get much of an opportunity to get down into the southwest part of the state. To be honest, I’m not sure I have been down there for cider stuff since I convinced Seth Bovee to sit down with me at Virtue after he judged my noncom cider at GLINTCAP years ago (RIP Virtue farm). That’s not the reason this time! The opportunity to try stuff from Joe and Erika Krajkiewcz down at Michigan Wine Company in Fennville immediately came to mind. If I was getting that far to the southwest part of Michigan, I couldn’t lose the opportunity to visit Carriage House Ciders in Benton Harbor! Although it was not on the itinerary initially, I also made a stop at Texas Corners Brewing Company for cider and a late lunch.
It was yet another beautiful Michigan summer morning when I set off from my local 7-11 with enough caffeine to sustain my trip. I’ve been really lucky with great weather on my trips around Michigan this summer. The sun was shining, the music was bumping, and I took some time on my drive to think about all the things I have to be grateful for! It was definitely a long drive from Saginaw, but the drive to Carriage House Ciders is only about 15 minutes longer than a drive to Tandem Ciders. Color me surprised!
Shortly after 11am I arrived at my first destination, Michigan Wine Company. I was under the impression that they opened at 11, but when I arrived there were already three large bachelorette parties in full swing. A friendly staff member (who turned out to be Erika, one of the owners) found Joe for me when I walked in. Joe and I went outside and talked about the property, varieties of grapes grown at the estate, as well as the advantages and challenges to the soil at their location. Being an engineer before he transitioned to the wine and cider world, you could see some evidence across the property. There were great solutions to problems, little innovations, and things built in the way only an engineer can. After a tour of the facility, we went back to the tasting room for a few samples. I really enjoyed the Rose they made using the skins of Gamay grapes. We sampled the Northern Spy as well. This one took Third Best in Class at the 2024 GLINTCAP competition. Most of their cider is called Grant Township which is a nod to their history. Joe came from Grant County and many of their apples come from that area. The wines were delicious, but that’s for a different time. Another cool thing about Michigan Wine Company is the ease of getting there. It is literally a half mile from the exit on I-196. I was able to get in and out of the place and back on the highway very quickly and easily. What a great location! I am definitely coming back to this spot for wine and cider.
Next on my list is a spot that I’ve been wanting to visit for a long time. Carriage House Ciders is owned and operated by Paula Camp, her wife, and their crew. I had met Paula in passing for the first time 10 years ago when she came to the old MCA fall cider festival at Uncle John’s. Back then, it were still a cidery in planning. Everything they do is natural fermentation in the actual carriage house of their 140+ year old home! 2025 was the first full year of having their cider garden just south of the carriage house. It is here that I met up with Justine, one of their employees and the main social media person for the company. We had a great time chatting about the cider, talking with some patrons who had come in, and talking about the company. I tried six different ciders including some two had been barrel aged; one in bourbon and one in tequila barrels. One of my favorites was Junius Woods which was released for Juneteenth this year. It commemorates the aforementioned man who was born a slave and moved to the Benton Harbor area where he planned, planted, and cared for orchards in the area before becoming a nursery owner. It’s in the style of a champagne and has a blend of Roxbury Russet, Hoople and Frequin Rouge apples in it. As I was finishing up at Carriage House, I heard my stomach rumbling and realized it was after 2PM and that sustenance was needed. A spur of the moment idea came up! I wasn’t too far from Texas Corners Brewing Company and they had a kitchen serving up meals! So I bought a t-shirt from Justine and set off for Texas Corners.
I had really no idea what to expect at Texas Corners Brewing Company. I know that Andrew Schultz, one of the owners, took and passed his Certified Pommelier exam at the same time I did. I’ve had a few of their ciders over the years, but I didn’t know a ton about them. First off, the building itself was very cool! It was an old church, library, and a retail space before it became Texas Corners Brewing Company. There was also a really cool patio east of the building that you can sit in. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich with french fries. The pulled pork was pretty good, but I absolutely loved those fries that seemed to be handcut and sprinkled with kosher salt! They were wonderful! With my meal, I got a flight of the ciders they had available. They were Classic Cider, Cherry, Dabinett, and Goldrush. Quickly after my first sip I remembered how good their cider actually is! Dabinett was a highlight for me as it drank more like a semisweet than the bone dry many people make. Cherry is pretty standard at most places, but it was quite lovely. Perfect for patio sipping. There was the sweetness you would expect, but that tartness rounded it out making it pleasing to drink. The last one, Goldrush, is something I am always down to drink. It went so quickly that I forgot to write notes! Needless to say, I liked it very much. I would definitely get more of all four of the offerings they had. After finishing my meal and drinking a few glasses of water, I headed on my long trip back to Saginaw with a full stomach and a smile on my face.
It had been probably a decade since I was last down in the southwest part of the state drinking cider. It’s a hotbed of great people and libations! They grow amazing fruit and the people are even better. There are many reasons to get down there and hit up some cider, wine, and beer spots. Southwest Michigan has its own style that is unlike other parts of Michigan. If you are looking for a different area to explore, I highly suggest heading down there. You won’t be disappointed!
