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Please forward this e-newsletter to other members of your organization who might have interest in the articles. It's easy to subscribe -- follow the link at the bottom of any page at www.michiganwines.com to be sure you don’t miss an issue. Back issues are posted on the website under Industry/Council Business/E-Newsletters. Feedback and suggested content is always welcome. Contact Karel Bush at 517-284-5742 or bushk9@michigan.gov.
 February 22-24, 2017
Grand Traverse Resort, Acme
Join more than 200 members of Michigan's wine industry for this annual conference, featuring educational sessions on grape and wine production, business management, sales and marketing.
Register before February 1 to receive the early-bird discount!
Reserve your hotel before February 1 to ensure the reduced room rate!
Details and register online at www.michiganwines.com/conference
The hotel is holding a block of rooms until February 1, 2017, at a reduced rate of $109 per night, plus $11.95 per night resort fee, plus tax. Reserve online at www.grandtraverseresort.com, enter Promo Code MGW0217; or by phone at 800-968-7352, and reference the Michigan Grape and Wine Conference.
Sponsorship and exhibitor information is available at www.michiganwines.com/conference. Prospective sponsors and exhibitors may contact Sherri Goodreau at goodreaus@michigan.gov or 517-284-5733 with questions. As you are speaking with suppliers to the industry, please encourage them to participate.
Highlights for the 2017 conference:
Winery Development Pre-Conference Workshop
This Pre-Conference Workshop is targeted to individuals who are considering starting a winery or hard cider business with topics relating to industry trends, fruit-growing regions, business planning, marketing, regulatory considerations, available resources and owner experiences.
View the Winery Development Pre-Conference Full Agenda
Michigan Certified Alcohol Service Training (Mi-CAST)
Are you a brand new winery with a tasting room? Or … did your tasting room strike gold with a hire but have no time to develop them into the employee that you need to start on day one? Or … are you a manager or business owner interested in teaching your team basics in making the sale in your tasting room with memorable customer service? This pre-conference is for you!
The Mi-CAST program is comprised of three modules that will soon be recognized as a credentialed program:
Module 1: Customer Service Training (8 hrs)
Module 2: Techniques in Alcohol Management (TAM) (4 hrs)
Module 3: Wine Fluency/Sensory Evaluation (4 hrs)
Take the one that catches your eye or sign up for all three at one great price!
Wednesday Welcome Reception
Mingle with industry colleagues from around the state while enjoying a variety of Michigan wines and light hors d'oeuvres. Contact Sherri Goodreau to have your wines served at this popular networking event - goodreaus@Michigan.gov, 517-284-5733.
Climate Change and Riesling
We are pleased to have renowned viticulturist Dr. Hans Reiner Schultz, president of Geisenheim University, present this session virtually from Geisenheim, Germany.
"World-Class Wine Tour" Traveling Dinner
Grab your passport and travel the world with Michigan's flavor profiles at your fingertips. This traveling dinner will feature cuisine from different parts of the world paired with Best of Class and Double Gold award winners from the 2016 Michigan Wine Competition.
Tour of Old Mission Peninsula Wineries
Get a behind-the-scenes look at Old Mission Peninsula wineries. Tour participants will travel by bus to three wineries to hear from winery owners and staff about their experiences in the industry. Breakfast and complimentary tastings included.
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Thank you to our generous sponsors!
"World-Class Wine Tour" Traveling Dinner Sponsor:
Vintage Sponsors:
“Talking to Customers About Your Winery’s Sustainability Practices”
January 18 - 9:30-10:30 am
Hosted by Liesl Clark and Linda Jones from 5 Lakes Energy, this webinar will cover tips for owners and marketing staff in developing customer communications regarding MAEAP and other sustainability practices that are of interest to today's consumer. A guest presenter from another U.S. wine region will share tips from their experience in this field. Information about the new Great Lakes Sustainable Wine Alliance for the Michigan wine industry will also be covered.
Visit https://meet.lync.com/5lakesenergy-com/lclark/PD1WJ9RL a few minutes prior to the start time and use the Skype app plug-in to view visuals and hear audio feed with your computer. The Conference ID is 9272089294.
To listen to the webinar without seeing accompanying visuals, call toll number: 973-935-2037. To receive an agenda for the webinar in advance or have other questions, contact Linda Jones at ljones@5lakesenergy.com, 517-420-0167.
This webinar is organized by 5 Lakes Energy under the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant project to develop a Wine Industry Sustainability Practices program for Michigan.
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Public input opportunity ends January 12
To ensure effective priorities within the Michigan Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development is collecting public input.
The MDARD Specialty Crop Block Grant Program awards funds to projects to enhance the competitiveness of Michigan specialty crops, which include fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture).
To submit comments, visit www.michigan.gov/mdardgrants or send them via email to mda-grants@michigan.gov. The deadline for comments is January 12, 2017, at 5:00 p.m. The input received will be considered when developing final program priorities for 2017.
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Michigan Wine Month will take place during May following a decision by Michigan’s Grape and Wine Industry Council during their regular meeting on December 1, 2016. The change from April to May will take effect in spring of 2017.
May kicks off a season of travel in Michigan, and the majority of wineries expand their hours to accommodate increased tourism. Warmer weather in May also makes it more desirable for travelers starting to plan their summertime wine touring.
"The change to May makes sense for wineries, retailers and the tourism industry," says Taylor Simpson, chair of the Council’s Promotion Committee. "Not to mention wineries are busy bottling the latest vintages -- so there is a buzz of excitement in the air."
At their December 1 meeting, the Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council recognized Painted Turtle Hard Cider, in Lowell, as a "producer of Michigan wine" after reviewing their application, bringing the total to 125 approved wineries throughout the state. The winery is now eligible to participate in Council-sponsored promotion, including the Michigan Wine Country magazine and www.michiganwines.com.
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We are in peak engagement season! To encourage Michigan winery locations as wedding venues, we are updating our Michigan Wines wedding page and advertising Michigan wedding destinations on social media and on The Knot.
Please contact Jenelle Jagmin (jagminj@michigan.gov) to add or update your wedding information on michiganwines.com/weddings, including photos we have permission to publish.
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Proposals due by 3 p.m. Thursday, February 2
The Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development is offering a new competitive grant program aimed to promote the sustainability of land-based industries and support infrastructure benefiting rural communities in Michigan.
The Rural Development Fund grants are available for projects addressing expansion and sustainability of land-based industries; worker training related to land-based industries; and energy, transportation, communications, water and wastewater infrastructure to benefit rural communities and micropolitan statistical areas (defined by the U.S. Department of Management and Budget as an area/county with at least one urban cluster of at least 10,000 but fewer than 50,000 population).
Land-based industries include food and agriculture; forestry; mining, oil and gas production; and tourism. Eligible counties include those with a population no greater than 60,000 residents or micropolitian statistical areas. For a complete list of eligible counties, visit http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdard/Rural_Development_Grant_Facts_Sheet_546275_7.pdf.
The proposals will be evaluated through a competitive process. There is no maximum limit on the project grant fund request; however, the total allotment of funding for the current year is approximately $1.5 million. All proposals require at least a 30% cash match. Applicants for grant funds will be asked to describe how the project potentially impacts and produces measurable outcomes for rural communities.
Those interested in applying for the grant program should visit http://www.michigan.gov/mdard/0,4610,7-125-1570_51684_78392---,00.html to view the application and program overview.
Any additional communications concerning this Request for Proposal should be sent to mda-grants@michigan.gov. Proposals must be received at the email above no later than 3 p.m. (EST) on Thursday, February 2, 2017. Proposals received after 3 p.m. will not be considered.
The Rural Development Fund grants are funded by the Nonferrous Metallic Minerals Extraction Severance Tax. The Rural Development Fund was created under PA 411 of 2012. Revenue from the severance tax is in accordance with PA 410 of 2012.
 The Eastern Winery Exposition, in Syracuse, is the largest winery and vineyard trade show held east of the Pacific states. More than 1,000 winery and vineyard personnel attended the 2016 event. Meet with more than 200 exhibiting companies, attend conference sessions covering all aspects of the winery/vineyard business by leaders in their fields, and network with other industry professionals.
New this year: License to Steal Wine Marketing Conference will take place as part of the conference.
Michigan wineries receive a 10% discount on their registration. Contact Sherri Goodreau, goodreaus@michigan.gov, for the discount code.
Register online at www.easternwineryexposition.com.
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Northwest Michigan Orchard and Vineyard Show - January 17-18
Grand Traverse Resort, Acme
Southwest Michigan Horticulture Days - February 5-6
Mendel Center at Lake Michigan College, Benton Harbor
Cold Climate Conference - February 16-18
Doubletree Hotel, Bloomington, Minnesota
Pure Michigan Agribusiness Summit - March 9
Suburban Collection Showplace, Novi
 By Cortney Casey
How would you like to influence the future of the Michigan wine industry?
And by "you," I mean the impassioned Michigan wine lover, kicking back at home with a glass of wine while reading this.
A newly formed nonprofit organization called the Michigan Wine Collaborative is seeking members who are interested in their mission to support, steer and unite the state's wine industry, which has been steadily increasing in size, scope, and acclaim.
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Details for the following positions are posted at www.michiganwines.com/jobs. If you have employment opportunities at your winery, contact Sherri Goodreau, goodreaus@michigan.gov, with information about the position, to have them listed on the Council's website.
Dablon Vineyards - Manager of Inside Sales and Marketing Coordinator (Baroda)
Free Run Cellars and Round Barn Winery - Tasting Consultants (Baroda, Berrien Springs, Union Pier)
Peninsula Cellars - Seasonal Tasting Room Representatives (Old Mission Peninsula)
 Do you want to expand your market reach internationally? Are you interested in assistance with food or agricultural exports? There are many food and agriculture export marketing programs and services that the International Marketing Program offers in conjunction with various partners and service providers. For an overview of a few of the programs and services that are offered, please see this "Working Together to Reach the World" export brochure.
For more information, contact Allie Fox VanDriel, International Marketing Program Coordinator, 517-284-5737 or foxa1@michigan.gov.
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Grape growers and winemakers around the world will be able to easily assess powdery mildew in the field with the help of a mobile application just released globally.
PMapp, which supports decisions about grape quality, has been developed by the University of Adelaide in close collaboration with the Australian grape and wine sector, and supported by Wine Australia.
"Powdery mildew is a serious disease that affects grapevines worldwide and can cause off flavours and aromas in wine if it is not controlled," says project leader Eileen Scott, Professor of Plant Pathology at the University of Adelaide's School of Agriculture, Food and Wine.
 By Elizabeth Hans McCrone
Terroir is the famous term that has been widely adopted to describe unique characteristics found in a region’s wine, driven by things, such as water flow, soil conditions, climate factors, position relative to the sun, etc.
Far less understood is the political and regulatory atmosphere in Washington D.C. that has everything to do with the ongoing health of an industry susceptible to laws and policies that govern its actual ability to do business.
"People just don’t realize how much policy affects them, and it really does," attests Michael Kaiser, Director of Public Affairs of WineAmerica, the National Association of American Wineries that has been advocating for the U.S. wine industry in Washington D.C. since it was founded in 1978.
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... Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail for inclusion as a destination in the book "1000 Places to See Before You Die"
... Spicer Orchards for winning third place in the 20th Annual Michigan Apple Cider Contest
... Boskydel Vineyard for being named Business of the Year by the Leelanau Peninsula Chamber of Commerce
... Several Michigan wineries for high awards in national wine competitions:
Jefferson Cup Invitational: 12 Corners Winery, Jefferson Cup for 2016 Vidal Ice Wine; L Mawby, Jefferson Cup for Sandpainting; St. Julian Winery, Jefferson Cup for Sweet Nancie and Solera Cream Sherry, and Double Gold for 2015 Riesling Reserve, 2015 Late Harvest Riesling Reserve, and 2015 Braganini Reserve Traminette
Harvest Challenge: Tabor Hill Winery, Double Gold and Best of Class for Classic Demi Sec
Ice Wine Harvested Coast to Coast (Wines & Vines)
Michigan Wine Month Moves to May (winebusiness.com)
Social media gives fans an inside look at Michigan wineries (hourdetroit.com)
Round Barn Winery hosts free Thanksgiving dinner (WNDU-TV)
A New Generation Takes Charge in Traverse City Wine Country (mynorth.com)
Wine Regions on the Rise (Wine Enthusiast)
Great grape crop paves way for high quality wine (upnorthlive.com)
Michigan wines thriving despite low global wine production (ABC-57)
State wineries say it's a great year for grapes (Detroit News)
The Ultimate Michigan Wine Bucket List (hourdetroit.com)
Climate change diversifies Michigan wine (Great Lakes Echo)
Southwest Michigan is for lovers -- of wine and craft beer (Crain's Chicago Business)
Amanda Danielson: A Michigan wine resource and more (Northern Wine Odyssey)
Michigan wineries preparing for tomorrow through environmental stewardship (Agriculturally Speaking)
Professor looks to establish winery in Detroit (mlive.com)
Couple starts Macomb County's lone vineyard operation (Macomb Daily)
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