Claes Fornell is The Donald C. Cook Distinguished Professor (Emeritus) of Business at the University of Michigan and the founder of Detroit Vineyards. Originally from Sweden and spending time in France over the much of the summers, he was fascinated by the early history of Detroit – especially the fact that Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, the French explorer who founded the city in 1701, planted a vineyard here in 1702 – 66 years ahead of anything in California. While it might be difficult to replicate Cadillac’s feat, it is Claes’ ambition to make sure we produce the highest quality wine from the best vineyards Michigan has to offer, as well as the fruit we harvest in our city vineyard.
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