MiBrew Magazine: St. Julian Spirit Making

100-Year-Old Michigan Winemaker’s Spirit-Making in Class of Its Own

BY JON BECKER FOR mibrew trail

celebrating its 100th birthday this year. And when we say, “on the map,” we’re talking global in scope and reputation for St. Julian Winery, Michigan’s oldest and largest operating winery. Many would naturally think of California as a prime location for winemaking. They aren’t wrong, but Michigan, led by Paw Paw-based St. Julian Winery, has staked a claim of its own as a premier place to grow grapes. Move over California and make room—Michigan winemaking is on the come-up. Its production facility in Paw Paw is a sight to behold, with thousands of medals adorning its walls. This past spring, 15 additional awards were added to this Wall of Fame. Taking home the gold and “Best of Class” for its 2020 Winemaker Series LaCrescent/Traminette, the iconic winery won a gold medal for its 2017 Braganini Reserve Meritage and also garnered a number of silver medals.

multi-generational family business that has been a leader in putting Michigan on the map for winemaking is

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MIBREW TRAIL MAGAZINE

ISSUE 7, SUMMER 2021

We started doing Friday night tastings to get people in the door. That quickly brought breweries in. It was great for them. They got to showcase their special beers to people in an intimate setting. Friday night tastings became an event. It was one of the things that put us on the map early on.

— Tim Costello Co-owner

Fellowship Drives Philosophy at 8 Degrees Plato

The dynamic husband and wife team pride themselves on their hospitality and sincere desire to get to know their customers.

“We pride ourselves on having something for everyone at St. Julian,” Braganini explains. For craft beer drinkers, cider may be more complimentary to the palette. The popular Forbidden Fruit cider, which is poured in many arenas, bars and venues throughout the state, is one of the most widely known ciders from Michigan. The serpent adorned tap handle is almost as attention grabbing as the liquid inside. Forbidden Fruit comes in a multitude of flavors. In the spirit of the season, the popular Head Games wine is making a resurgence. This easy drinking wine can be a great starting point for customers looking to expand into the wine realm this fall.

FIVE no-nonsense beers to enjoy THIS SUMMEr

It can sometimes be overwhelming to walk into your favorite bottle shop and peruse the shelves loaded with Michigan beer.

FIVE no-nonsense beers to enjoy THIS SUMMEr

It can sometimes be overwhelming to walk into your favorite bottle shop and peruse the shelves loaded with Michigan beer.

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FIVE no-nonsense beers to enjoy THIS SUMMEr

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St. Julian Michigan Gin, a fine example of the company’s steady ascension as a premier distiller of fine spirits, recently was awarded a Double Gold Award at the Tasters Guild Competition. This intense old world style gin is packed with flavor. Bold, citrusy aromas of lemon oil and cream, piney juniper and herb mélange make this a perfect choice for the boldest of cocktails—or simply enjoy its refreshing taste over ice. “As Michigan’s oldest winery, we have built a strong reputation in the wine industry,” explains Apollo Braganini, “As Michigan’s oldest operating craft distillery, we are gaining more recognition by producing excellent spirits. Our commitment to quality dictates everything we do here at St. Julian, from wines and ciders to spirits.” Experts agree. Their spiced rum just received a gold medal at the 2021 MicroLiquor TM Spirits Awards.

100-Year-Old Michigan Winemaker’s Spirit-Making in Class of Its Own

MIBREW TRAIL MAGAZINE

ISSUE 7, SUMMER 2021

Michigan beer. The choices are astounding, the varieties plentiful, and we all know the quality is outstanding. Sometimes, all you want is just a super solid, great drinking, lower alcohol, nice, light and refreshing brew. Nothing fancy, nothing crazy. That is when you reach for what I call a ‘no-nonsense’ beer. While these beers have always had a lock on the industry with offerings from our big beer companies, Michigan craft brewers have gravitated back to the style. And while these brews, which could be either ales or lagers, might seem simple from the outside, they are some of the hardest to make. With no outside additives, no huge hop additions, no barrel aging to hide behind, the true talent of the brewer is on display. It’s almost a way for the brewer to get back to their roots, and fine tune classic brewing techniques.

The Upper Peninsula: A Craft Beer Lovers Brewery Tour

Whether you’re heading north from Grand Rapids or fleeing Detroit, there’s nothing like the feeling of crossing the Mighty Mac for a northern adventure!

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The dynamic husband and wife team pride themselves on their hospitality and sincere desire to get to know their customers.

“Carrying on the mission of being a pure Michigan winery, St. Julian continues to be committed to Michigan agriculture,” says Nancie Oxley, Vice President of Winemaking at St. Julian Winery. “Proudly, almost all of our wines, ciders and spirits are produced with Michigan grown inputs,” she notes, “keeping true to the roots of the company is important.” Today, the company is run by 3rd and 4th generation family members John Braganini and his wife, Sarah (3rd generation) and his sons, Apollo and Dario Braganini (4th generation). St. Julian built its name and reputation for 100 years now on its wine, but its spirit-making is clearly in a class of its own as well. An array of spirits rounds out the St. Julian Winery & Distillery portfolio including rum, brandy, bourbon, vodka, and gin.

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

St. Julian ships wine and cider throughout Michigan and to several states. They are available in-state at major retailers like Meijer, liquor stores and many other convenience stores. There is a wine finder on its website that indicates the nearest location to where you are to find its products. Spirits are only sold inside tasting rooms located around the state: Paw Paw, Union Pier, Rockford, Frankenmuth, Dundee and Troy. MiBrew Trail wishes St. Julian a Happy Centennial Birthday and many more to come. 100 years alone in business is remarkable. What makes this birthday bash even more special is the fact that the family business is still around multiple generations later. Consider: Some 13% of family-owned businesses are passed down successfully to a 3rd generation. Only 3% make it to a 4th generation. True to form, St. Julian just keeps getting better with age. “I think it speaks to the incredible loyalty and dedication of the Braganini Family,” says Alyssa Sonnevil, Marketing Director at the winery. “They are fully aware of the family history here and are determined to uphold the legacy of the man who started it all: Mariano Meconi.” St. Julian Winery has been in Paw Paw since 1936 when Meconi moved its operations there from Detroit. And with several of his descendants capably carrying on a long and storied tradition of winemaking excellence, St. Julian Winery is poised to celebrate many more birthdays.