All over America, regional wines are growing in popularity, while the sales of California wines remain static. Are they really that good, or is this a craze fueled by local loyalties?

If you're in the wine business, you know it isn't local loyalty. Many people just can't believe that Michigan wines are as good as their more famous cousins from California or Europe. Some of us remember a mere 25 years ago, when California wines were similarly dismissed by nearly everyone as being noticeably less fine than French wines.

Then in 1976, the Californians bested the French in the historic Stephen Spurrier wine tasting in Paris. Overnight, California wines were believable. Despite the fact that the winners were a few expensive, low-production wines, Americans went out in droves to buy whatever was on the shelves.

What few people realize is that in national and international competitions, wines from Michigan, Virginia, Texas, Connecticut, Missouri and New York regularly beat out wines from California and Europe.

Maybe we need one really big shootout amongst the best of the best to generate the respect that regional wines deserve. In the meantime, medals are quietly being awarded to home-grown Michigan wines at prestigious competitions around the country.

More than 800 medals are awarded to Michigan wines in national and international competitions each year. Visit www.michiganwines.com to check out the list of competitions, and to get the results of the most recent Michigan Wine & Spirits Competition.

For more information about the Michigan Wine & Spirits Competition, contact Karel Bush at 517-241-4468. For more information about the wineries and vineyards of Michigan, visit the Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council Web site at www.michiganwines.com.