One of Michigan's Newest Wineries Looks Like a Church
What started as a hobby has become Charlotte’s first winery
Charlotte — I turned 21 and three days later bought my first legal drink at Charlotte’s Auxo Winery.
Between Olivet and Charlotte sits a beautiful black barn, stark against the surrounding fields landscape. Bistro lights, an outdoor patio, and orchards right up to the entrance welcome visitors to Auxo Winery for house-made wine, cider, and menu options. Owner Alison Barc said that when she and her husband Nick decided to start the process of opening the winery five years ago, they wanted the building itself to spark conversation and get people interested in checking out what could be inside.
“We really wanted people to wonder if it was like a church,” Barc said. “I’m like, it’s a church of wine. It catches your eye. It’s an awesome building.”
After graduating from college and taking up farming, Alison and Nick Barc began dreaming about the winery when looking for ways of using leftover fruit at the end of harvest seasons. As they learned more about the process of making wine or cider with their produce, they realized it was time to make the leap and start building the space they would need to make their dreams a reality.
“You can’t sell wine out of your garage," Barc said. "You can’t start slow. You either do it or you don’t.”
Small batch wine-making wasn’t new to Alison, as she described herself as a “third-generation wine maker,” so starting a winery with her husband did not surprise their family and friends.
“My family’s been making wine for generations,” Barc said. “I grew up drinking Grandpa’s wine at Christmas, even though I was 12. It didn’t count because Grandpa made it, you know. I’ve been making small batches in my kitchen since I was your age [21]. It was fun because I just needed the fruit and a kit and then I could make all this wine.”
Making kitchen batches of homemade wine is a hobby, but Alison said she realized early on in the process that what they had in mind for the winery was much more work than that.
After years of paperwork, building, harvesting, and wine making, Auxo Winery opened in March and has been a bigger success than Alison imagined. She commented on how busy opening weekend was and how she had to hire kitchen staff and more waitresses to keep up with demand.
Auxo Winery has an extensive public events schedule, including plant bingo, yoga classes, live music, and various holiday-themed events. They also are available for bookings for private events, like celebrations of life, bridal showers, or birthday parties. Alison said keeping a busy calendar brings peoples' attention and business in for more than just a wine night but that after they attend events, they end up returning.
The most popular option for tasting is the flight, which includes three drinks, so visitors can try a variety of what Auxo offers. Alison also puts strong emphasis on the food menu which includes charcuterie, paninis, and locally made cheesecakes by KorrieLinn's Cheesecakes.
“I tell people ‘come hungry,’ because they can always eat while they’re here,” Barc said.
I'm no connoisseur, but the wine and cider selection at Auxo Winery impressed my novice taste, and, by the liveliness of the space, Auxo has surprised many around Charlotte by its menu and the quality of its product.
Auxo is the perfect atmosphere for your first glass of wine or your hundredth so come up to Charlotte and visit mid-Michigan's newest winery.
