Mawby Vineyards and Winery: The Fun Side of Serious Sparkling Wine

Welcome to the bubbly world of MAWBY Vineyards and Winery, where seriously great sparkling wines meet seriously fun times. In a recent chat, co-owner Mike Laing delved into the essence of this 50-year-old gem. He explained the delightful world of MAWBYness—where every sip is an invitation to join the seriously fun side of sparkling wine. Let’s explore what makes MAWBY unique and vibrant.

The Fun Side of Michigan Winter

Michigan winters don’t sound like fun, especially when temperatures drop as low as negative 20 degrees. But fear not! MAWBYness includes a serious trick to thwart even the coldest season — “kicker canes” that snake beneath the snow. When upper canes become cold-damaged, kicker canes are the insurance. This creative solution to a serious problem ensures vineyard continuity.

Fun and Neighborly Michigan

Both Mike and Mawby call Michigan home and their warm and welcoming nature beckons visitors from across the country. Thanks to extraordinary experiences, and to tasting room manager Holly Smith, about 25,000 people visit the MAWBY tasting room every year. This has led to expanded distribution in Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Virginia, DC, Maryland, and the state of Georgia. 

Delivering an extraordinary customer experience remains a priority and a visit to MAWBY stands out because of product innovation and enthusiastic people. Every visitor has a sparkling good time and becomes a MAWBY-ite in the process!

From vineyard to production to the front office, everyone pitches in, especially when there are staff changes. For example, when the U.S. Government stole away the wonderful vineyard manager Megan Budd to care for Michigan’s forests, her assistant, smiling Mike Formisano, stepped up to become mother to the vines.

Serious Legacy and Creative Fun

Larry Mawby founded the company that carries his name and whose invaluable lessons live on through Mike and his brother, Peter, “the Guy Behind the Guy.” In the early days, their parents sold grapes to Larry, ultimately becoming partners. Today the Laing family owns the winery and vineyards.

Their approach is to pay homage to the past while venturing into fresh territory. MAWBY offers the best of French traditional method sparkling wines paired with innovative bubblies such as pet-nats, spritzers, ciders, and their unique Cuve Close tank-fermented sparkling wines. 

Ridiculously brash, they call their sparkling rosé SEX. The name came from a conversation between Mike and his tasting staff, when he asked, “What would happen if we called a wine Sex? You’d have to ask the customers to try some Sex.” This tank-fermented sparkler is now the company’s best-selling wine.

Fun Brew Solutions

Unlike most competitors, seriously consumer focused MAWBY offers wine in kegs, a growing business for the company. Restaurants and breweries love the format for its convenience and environmental friendliness. And unlike most states, Michigan allows breweries to have winemaker’s licenses, even if they don’t make wine. Many breweries partner with MAWBY so wine drinkers can enjoy a glass when visiting local breweries.  

The Fun of Fizz Club

MAWBYness is about seriously wonderful wines paired with an unserious approach to life. Fizz Club members enjoy serious fun, one bubbly sip at a time from MAWBY’s diverse and approachable portfolio. With 3,500 members representing 20% of the total business, the FIZZ club, managed by Claire Lepine, is a testament to MAWBY’s ongoing commitment to their customers. 

Future Fun

Looking to the future, Mawby Winery is developing a strategic plan for sustainable growth. Serious about the market, they are considering entering the low- and non-alcoholic categories, because seriously, who said only alcohol can be fun?

MAWBY Gives Seriously

MAWBY is serious about improving their community’s quality of life. This year, they expanded their support of local non-profits with part of the profits going to organizations that support child literacy, the environment, and sports. 

MAWBYness is about celebrating life every day! To keep up with the fun, visit the website and follow on social media. Cheers to everything MAWBY, the world’s most seriously unserious winery.

A Few Fun  MAWBY Sparkling Selections:

• Talismøn Brut Estate Cuveé

Talismøn beautifully reflects the vineyards of Leelanau County. This wine is a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Vignoles. A traditional style sparkling, it includes some reserve wines dating back to 1993, which deepens the wine’s character.

 

• 50th Anniversary Cuveé Brut

This wine celebrates 50 years of MAWBYness. It’s a traditional method wine made from Leelanau Peninsula Chardonnay and Riesling with a dosage of 20-year-old French Oak Barrel aged grape spirits.

 

• Sex Brut Rosé

Provocatively named and easy to drink, this fruit forward rosé is a Cuve Close (tank) Method bubbly made from a blend of several grape varieties.