Cherry Republic's wines are 100 percent Michigan made -- from the grapes and cherries to the bottling and fermenting.
Angela Smith | for AnnArbor.com
Downtown Ann Arbor business Cherry Republic is adding a long-sought wine-tasting counter to its offerings this week.
The business, on Ann Arbor's Main Street, has been looking to offer wine tasting since shortly after it opened in May 2011.
The store invites customers to come in and enjoy complimentary samples of their “uniquely Michigan” wines beginning this week. Cherry Republic, at 223 S. Main, is offering seven different cherry wines for tasting and sale. During this inaugural week the store will be serving up pairings with each wine. A cherry salsa dish may be served with cherry sangria, for example.
The wines range from $12 to $15 per bottle and all incorporate a cherry flavor.
“(Wine is) the No. 1 requested product from us in the Ann Arbor market from the things we haven’t offered.”Jason Homa, Cherry Republic’s vice president of sales told AnnArbor.com in October.
Cherry Ambassador Gray Bouchard serves samples to Debbie and John Gonzales of Ann Arbor. The Gonzales recommend the Conservancy wine as their favorite taste of the day.
Angela Smith | For AnnArbor.com
Nanci Jenkins, assistant manager at Cherry Republic, is happy to offer this service in the Ann Arbor store. “There have been lots of hoops to jump through and we are jumping with joy to make this available,” Jenkins says.
Cherrry Republic Ann Arbor made the request for a license to serve and sell wine in fall of 2011. Ann Arbor's Liquor License Review Committee recommended approval in 2012, and the city council and state licensing commission have now made their approvals.
The store will be carefully checking IDs of customers interested in the complimentary wine tastings, but there will be some sort of samples available for patrons of any age. Cherry Republic also will have its cherry-themed sodas available to try. “We want it to be a family-friendly atmosphere.”
As with the other samples at Cherry Republic, the tastings will be available whenever the store is open.
Those looking for more than just how beverages taste might want to check out the Cherry Republic Ann Arbor Facebook page. The site gives details about Cherry Republic’s collaboration with Ann Arbor restaurants called Eat, Drink, and Be Cherry. Each Saturday from 2-4 p.m. a local restaurant comes into the store and prepares a signature dish using the addition of the store’s northern Michigan cherries.
Angela Smith is a freelance reporter for AnnArbor.com.