Spotlight is on Michigan wines

Master Sommelier Claudia Tyagi talks about Michigan’s best whites, reds and sparkling wines during the “About It!” presentation at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts, 400 Culver St. in Saugatuck at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16. The talk begins is free of charge; a goodwill donation will be collected.

During 2008, Michigan wineries have won more than 700 gold, silver and bronze medals in national and international wine competitions.

Tyagi will talk about what makes Michigan wines special (hint: it’s the lake!), and highlight some of the state’s best vintners and vintages.

Claudia Tyagi is a native of Detroit. Her European heritage gave her early exposure to the joys of cooking and the family table. In London, November 1997, Tyagi completed the examinations to earn the Master Sommelier diploma from the British and American Court of Master Sommeliers.

At that time, she was only the seventh woman in the world to hold this certification. The Master Sommelier diploma is the only internationally recognized wine service credential, and even today there are only 160 people in the world ever to have earned this certification, which represents the pinnacle of wine service knowledge.