Mari Vineyards: Praefectus 2022
A Legacy Rooted in Family and Innovation
Founded in 1999 by Marty Lagina—now known from The Curse of Oak Island—Mari Vineyards is a bold expression of his Italian heritage and Michigan ambition. Named after his grandmother Teresa Mari, the winery set out to cultivate European varieties rarely grown in northern Michigan—Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, alongside Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Riesling.
With its grand opening in June 2016, Mari unveiled a stunning Tuscan-style tasting room carved into a hillside, complete with one of Michigan’s only underground wine caves. Their innovative hoop‑house system—small greenhouse arcs over the vines—extends the growing season, enabling true Old World varietals in a Cold‑Climate frontier.
Our Visits: Friendly Faces & Memorable Moments
We’ve been fortunate visitors to Mari multiple times, always greeted with warmth and expertise. Most recently, we enjoyed a full behind-the-scenes tour and tasting led by the tasting-room manager, Andy Jacobson, who guided us through the production area and barrel caves.
Walking those elevations—70 feet between tasting room and cellar—we felt the scale and ambition of their operation. While Marty himself wasn’t there that day, we spotted several of his “valuable finds”—reclaimed Upper Peninsula stones, a handcrafted ashwood bar, and even chain‑mail accents—all echoing his collector’s spirit and family legacy.
CHECK OUT OUR ISSUE ON NORTHERN MICHIGAN. CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW TO HEAD TO OUR MAGAZINE ARCHIVE.
Praefectus 2022: A Love Letter in Red
Now to the star of today's review—the 2022 Praefectus. This blend of Cabernet Franc (approx. 75 percent) and Cabernet Sauvignon is Mari at its best: structured yet elegant, bold yet refined. On the nose, dark currants, black cherry and violet petals, interwoven with warm cedar and graphite. It opens further with air, cigar box, leather and a hint of bay leaf.
The oak integration is superb—complementing, not overpowering.
We genuinely adore this vintage: it strikes a sublime harmony of fruit, structure and place. Try this wine with that epic bay view behind it, and every bottle feels like a celebration of experimentation paying off. In our opinion, the 2022 Praefectus ranks among one of their finest, worthy of pairing with braised short ribs, aged Gouda, or savoring on its own.
To us, Mari Vineyards is more than a winery—it’s Marty’s dream come to life. The 2022 Praefectus embodies that dream: ambitious, well-crafted, deeply rooted in both family and terroir. Here's to many more visits, more tours, and more moments by the bay with this exceptional wine in hand.
Until next time, Mari!