Walla Walla, Washington's winemaker losses are turning into substantive gains for Michigan's Great Southwest, and that's excellent news for wine lovers throughout the region. For the second time in recent memory, a winemaker from Walla Walla has relocated to Southwest Michigan…this time for Round Barn Winery.
With an eye toward refinement and continuous improvement of its award winning wines, Round Barn Winery tells me they are delighted to announce the hiring of Brian Carlson as their new Winemaker. Carlson comes to Round Barn from Walla Walla, Washington with a Fermentation Science Degree from the U.C. Davis and has worked for the past 25 years with wineries in California, Oregon and Washington. During his college days he had the opportunity to experience working a harvest at Rosemount Estate in Australia.
Round Barn partner Matt Moersch says, "Brian's knowledge of wine and the practices he employs in the vineyard are perfectly aligned with our own attitudes for making great wine. I have no doubt that he'll make a major impact on our business." Brian will also be the consulting Winemaker for Free Run Cellars, located in Berrien Springs and owned by brothers Matt and Chris Moersch. Free Run's boutique-style winery offers an epicurean experience for food and wine lovers; specializing in chef-created food pairings completing each wine sample.
Carlson comes to the region saying, "My basic philosophy has always been to allow the fruit to express itself. There can be times however when the skilled Winemaker needs to step in and nudge the wine back toward the desired stylistic goal. This is where my decades of experience come in handy."
Carlson is the second winemaker of note to relocated to the Lake Michigan Appellation. Lake Michigan College's Wine & Viticulture Technology Program was launched last fall under the watchful eye and tutelage of Winemaker and Program Director Michael Moyer who also came to us from Walla Walla, Washington. He brought 17 years of teaching and winemaking experience to LMC, and Round Barn Winery donated a scholarship to the college's wine program.
The hiring of Carlson as Winemaker follows the announcement in June that Round Barn had hired Ryan Thornburg as their Culinary Director. Round Barn's Director of Marketing, Nicole Moersch says, "We're really rounding out our management team with hiring Brian and Ryan. Both are highly experienced, exceptionally skilled in their crafts and together they are transforming the experience we want our guests to enjoy when visiting one of our properties and delighting in our products." She adds, "We're thrilled to have attracted such great talent to our beautiful corner of Michigan."
Located in Southwest Michigan in one of America's most diverse vinicultural regions, Round Barn and Free Run Cellars were acknowledged with several awards in July's Michigan Wine Competition by the Michigan Grape & Wine Industry Council. Round Barn Winery was awarded a gold medal for its 2013 Merlot, and took home silver medals for its 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon and Vineyard Tears. Free Run Cellars was awarded silver medals for 2012 Cabernet Franc and 2013 Dry Riesling. Their Syrah earned a Bronze medal. Nicole says, "With so much good wine being made in our state, we are very happy with this year's awards. It's meaningful that our dry wines performed so well in competition, particularly because many people initially came to know Round Barn through our fruit and sweet wines. These awards highlight the work we've done to innovate our wine making to appeal to all wine drinkers."
In the winemaking business for more than 35 years, Round Barn uses time-honored traditions, artfully expressed with a "new world" twist, and is pleased to offer an experience unlike any other. Celebrating their 24th anniversary in business this year, they have built a flourishing family operation rooted in a spirited, educational and friendly atmosphere; the perfect mixture of flavor and fun.
The Round Barn family includes all of the following venues:
- Round Barn Winery, Distillery & Brewery at 10983 Hills Road in Baroda
- Free Run Cellars at 10062 Burgoyne Road in Berrien Springs
- Round Barn Brewery & Public House at 9151 1st Street in Baroda
- Union Pier Tasting Room for Round Barn & Free Run Retail Sales at 9185 Union Pier Road in Union Pier
