US Federal and State laws prohibit the sale of wine, beer or spirits to anyone under 21 years of age.
Every great revolution starts with a spark, and for Tony Jacobson, that spark ignited in the kitchen of his duplex during college. Using borrowed homebrew gear and a punk-rock ethos, he wasn't just making wine; he was forging a new path. As a designer in school, he needed a name for the wines, something bold and a little rebellious. It became Loose Cannon, a label that adorned all of his homemade concoctions. Little did he know that name, nor that path, would stick and evolve into something far grander than kitchen experiments.
Fast forward. The journey began in Duluth, Minnesota, moved to Central Illinois, and continued to Traverse City's vibrant wine scene. By 2016, Tony was neck-deep in the glorious complexities of sparkling wine. He devoured knowledge, culminating in a Master's degree in Enology, zeroing in on the very bubbles that would define his future.
Michigan's cool climate and sandy soils are not mere features of a beautiful place for a vacation; they are a perfect opportunity for sparkling wine. Wines from here naturally yield higher acidity and a lighter body, making for a "round peg for a round hole" fit. The wine world is sleeping on Michigan sparkling wine, and Loose Cannon is ready to deliver the wake-up call.
In 2023, Loose Cannon was officially founded. It wasn't the easy path; launching a sparkling brand in an "unproven" region takes a certain kind of conviction, a willingness to be, well, a loose cannon. Tony, however, thrives on it. He's not just a winemaker; he’s a pioneer, picking up where no other producer has gone, 100% Michigan sparkling wine. He's poised to challenge perceptions and elevate Michigan to the global stage. He admires the precision of Champagne's greats like Krug and Ayala, and reveres local legend Larry Mawby, but he's charting his own course, beginning with an "untraditional method" that dances on the edges of Pet Nat and traditional sparkling methods.
His inaugural wine, Phoenix, isn't just a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay; it’s Tony’s personal rebirth, bottled. Fired abruptly from a previous role, he rose from those ashes, launching Loose Cannon as his independent manifesto. When you sip Phoenix, he wants more than enjoyment. He wants a connection. He wants you to admire the hand-drawn phoenix on the label, feel the audacious spirit of Loose Cannon, and know you're holding something exceptional. A bottle from Loose Cannon, frankly, demands attention.
You won't find a Loose Cannon tasting room, but you'll find Loose Cannon where it matters: in fine wine shops and restaurants across Michigan, and available for shipping to 39 states. This isn't a competition on price; it's about being the best Michigan has to offer, a domestic answer to international giants. For Tony, success won't just be measured in sales; it'll be in every vintage that sells out before the next is ready. It'll be the legacy he leaves: proving that a Loose Cannon was exactly what Michigan sparkling wine needed to pop onto the world stage.