Poetson Winery: Methode Ancestrale

Lake Michigan Shore plays into the choice to make a sparkling wine because you have a natural grape chemistry that supports it. Even when you get to sort of peak ripeness—which is something you're actually looking for when making a pét-nat or méthode ancestrale sparkling versus a Champenois method—you still have acid, and that’s something you absolutely need to make a solid sparkling wine.

What sets this méthode ancestrale Pinot Gris apart from a lot of domestic pét-nats at the moment is that this kind of takes it a step further. We do long lees aging in bottle, followed by hand riddling and disgorging, so we’re utilizing techniques here from the Champenois method.

A lot of domestic wineries will think about pét-nat as something that you release early—one of the earliest releases—with the yeast, which has now fallen out of suspension and turned into lees, still in the bottle. This can create a very muddied expression, and also—any time you have a preponderance of nucleation points within a sparkling wine—you raise the likelihood that this is going to explode when you open it.

So from a sommelier perspective, and from just an ease-of-use perspective, I was looking for something that had the development of the traditional method, with that magic that can happen from the wildness of pét-nat.

Founded in 2023, Poetson Wine is the work of winemaker Alex McNeely. After a decade as a Beverage Director and Sommelier in New York City, McNeely returned to his Southwest Michigan roots to craft wines that speak of place and tradition. As a one-person operation, Poetson represents McNeely’s winemaking philosophy and dedication to craft.
Based in Buchanan, Michigan, Poetson focuses on expressing Michigan terroir through minimal-intervention winemaking. Working with vineyards along Lake Michigan’s shore—from the Lake Michigan Shore AVA and north to the Old Mission Peninsula and Leelanau Peninsula AVAs—McNeely builds relationships with growers who share his commitment to quality and sustainability.

The winemaking approach centers on transparency by using native yeasts and striving to work without additions. By using native yeasts and working without additions beyond what’s in the grape itself, each wine reflects its origins. The portfolio features Michigan-grown Vinifera varieties, including Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Grüner Veltliner.

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