News for the Michigan Wine Industry - June 2018

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June 2018

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.

In this Issue:

Michigan Wine Competition

Michigan Wine Competition logo

Deadline for entries: July 6

Judging: July 31

Gold Medal Reception: August 9

The Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council invites wineries to submit eligible entries to the 2018 Michigan Wine Competition. Entry materials are available at www.michiganwines.com/competition and will be mailed to all Michigan wineries this week.

The deadline for entry forms is July 6. Late entries will not be accepted. Wine deliveries must arrive by July 13.

Invitations for winery representatives to attend the Gold Medal Reception (complimentary tickets available to those who enter wines) will be mailed in early July.

Lodging rooms at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center sell out in advance for the night of the Reception, so please reserve now to avoid disappointment. Reservations may be made online at kelloggcenter.com (enter your dates, click on "More Options" and enter Group Code 1808GOLDMM) or call 800-875-5090 and reference Gold Medal Reception. Discounted room rates starting at $116 are guaranteed until July 9 or until rooms are sold out.

Gov. Snyder Establishes Michigan Craft Beverage Council

For immediate release: May 23, 2018

Media contact: Jessy Sielski, 517-284-5725

LANSING -- Today, Gov. Rick Snyder signed House Bill 4667 and Senate Bill 440 -- sponsored by Rep. Brandt Iden and Sen. Goeff Hansen -- which will change the name of the Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council to the Michigan Craft Beverage Council. The bills also will expand the council to include Michigan wine, beer, hard cider and spirits. The bills are now Public Acts 154 and 155 of 2018.

The Craft Beverage Council will award grants for research into winemaking, hops, barley, beer and spirits; conduct market surveys and analysis; and offer other programs that encourage the agricultural elements related to Michigan's craft beverage industries. The Council's activities are funded exclusively by non-retail, non-wholesale liquor license fees.

"This is a really smart move for Michigan," said Gordon Wenk, director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. "When the Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council was established 30 years ago, Michigan had 14 wineries. We now have 145. And that industry alone contributes $5.4 billion in economic impact to our state, including $253 million in tourism spending. Now we're watching Michigan become one of the nation's most prolific and innovative producers of craft beers, hard ciders, and spirits. As a state, we must evolve with the industry -- support them, promote them, and ensure they are represented in the decision-making process."

The director of MDARD will serve as chair of the 10-member council and is the only non-voting member. Other members to be appointed by Governor Rick Snyder: two winemakers; a winemaker that primarily manufactures cider; one restaurant and one retail representative; a small distiller; a distiller that manufactures more than 60,000 gallons of spirits per year; a large brewer; and either a microbrewer or a brewpub license holder.

The Michigan Craft Beverage Council will be housed in the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, effective October 1, 2018.

Council approves producers of Michigan wine

At their May meeting, the Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council recognized five wineries as "producers of Michigan wine," bringing the total to 145 approved wineries throughout the state. These wineries are now eligible to participate in Council-sponsored promotion, including the Michigan Wine Country magazine and www.michiganwines.com:

Amoritas Vineyards, Lake Leelanau
Gitche Gumee Ciderworks, Hancock
Sangria Shop, Portage
Soul Squeeze Cellars, Traverse City
JK's Scrumpy, Flushing

Plan ahead for event Special Licenses from MLCC

Festival season is heating up! If you're planning an event that requires a Special License from the Michigan Liquor Control Commission, be sure to plan ahead and submit your license application at least 10 business days, and preferably 30 days prior to the event.

Detailed information about applying for Special Licenses, including application, instructions and checklist

USA Wine Ratings: Wines judged by Quality, Value and Package

USA Wine Ratings

Registration ends June 30, 2018

The new Wine Ratings looks to set a new benchmark for award-winning wine by assessing them for their quality, their value for their money and what they look like with their packaging and design.

We’re told to never judge a book by its cover. Which is very much the approach taken by the majority of wine competitions around the world that only judge a wine by how it tastes, with no consideration at all for what it looks like, and often how much it costs.

Beverage Trade Network hopes to change all that with its new global awards initiative, the USA Wine Ratings (UWR).

Key Dates:
Special Pricing Domestic Registration: Ends June 20, 2018
Domestic Registration: Ends June 30, 2018
Judging: July 23-24, 2018
Winners Announced: September 5, 2018

Cork and Cellar Tour in Tuscany November 9-15, 2018

Educational tour for wineries

Join PennState Extension in scenic Tuscany for a wine experience that will take you through the cellar door and into the vineyard for exclusive tasting room trainings and production room tours.

The trip will begin in Florence, Italy. Each day you will journey to large scale and boutique wineries to be trained in the art of wine tasting and marketing, a skill to take back to your winery.

View Cork and Cellar Tour flyer

Complete information and registration at extension.psu.edu

Farmer Field Day June 22 in Williamsburg

Learn About: Soil Fertility, Nutrient Utilization, and Conservation Tools

Qualifies for a MAEAP phase 1 credit

Date: June 22, 2018

Time: 8:45AM - 4PM

Location: MAPLE BAY FARM 10875 US-31, Williamsburg MI

Reception & bluegrass performance to follow featuring CARTER CREEK

FREE OF CHARGE

A locally-sourced lunch is included with pre-registration

TO REGISTER:
Contact the Grand Traverse Conservation District via phone or email: 231-941-0960 ext. 22 or lfreed@gtcd.org

WineAmerica Applauds Excise Tax Law Development

WineAmerica logo

WASHINGTON, DC -- WineAmerica is delighted that wineries throughout the country will now be able to take full advantage of reduced federal excise taxes due to an announcement by the federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) that it is extending an "alternate procedure" through December 31, 2019.

Michigan Grown, Michigan Great Restaurant Award

Application Deadline July 20, 2018

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), Michigan Restaurant Association, and Michigan Ag Council recognize Michigan restaurants sourcing Michigan made agriculture products and food products. The goal of this award is to recognize Michigan restaurants who have worked diligently to increase sourcing Michigan food and agriculture products to serve to their customers.

Michigan Agricultural Mediation Program offers free services to producers

Michigan Ag Mediation Program

The Michigan Agricultural Mediation Program is helpful if issues arise with lenders, creditors or the USDA agencies over loans, credit, wetland determinations, farm program compliance, crop insurance or other agriculture-related topics.

Operating a farm business brings farmer-operators into a number of important relationships with lenders, creditors, government agencies and regulators. Sometimes these relationships result in misunderstandings and problems that become real obstacles to success.

Agricultural mediation offers an alternative to the formal appeals process to reach a mutually acceptable agreement between the parties in conflict. Michigan State University Extension educators are generally knowledgeable about many issues that may result in these types of conflict, but specially trained mediators are much better equipped to provide the help needed.

The Michigan Agricultural Mediation Program has been providing mediations services for agricultural and rural disputes for over 20 years, with many successful outcomes. If mediation is not successful, a person may still file an appeal or seek other legal remedies.

Hats Off to ...

... Michigan wineries earning Double Gold awards at the Tasters Guild International Wine Judging: Brys Estate 2017 Riesling/Pinot Gris, 2016 Riesling, 2015 Cabernet Franc/Merlot; Chateau Fontaine 2016 Woodland White, 2017 Pinot Blanc, 2016 Pinot Noir; Chateau Grand Traverse 2016 Gruner Veltliner; Domaine Berrien Cellars 2016 Red Satin; Fenn Valley 42 Ice Wine; Laurentide 2017 Pinot Noir Rose, 2016 Pinot Gris; M Lawrence Once; Rove Estate 2017 Pinot Blanc, 2017 Riesling; St. Julian Solera Cream Sherry, Michcato, and Braganini Reserve 2017 Tempranillo Rose, 2017 Gruner Veltliner, 2016 Chambourcin

Media Clips

Canned wine coming to Southwest Michigan winery (mlive)

Shredding research in Midwest vineyards (Good Fruit Grower)

Wine on Wheels? Mobile Bottling Arriving Soon at Area Wineries (Traverse Ticker)

Michigan Wine Remixed (HOUR Detroit)

Sietsema Cider to open satellite tasting room in Cedar Springs (MiBiz)

MBTB Radio: All Odds & Ends (Michigan By The Bottle)

10 incredible wine destinations to visit across America this summer (vinepair)

May is Michigan Wine Month: How you can plan your trip around the lake (FOX 6 Milwaukee)

Family starts vineyard, husband writes book in wife's hopeful name (Traverse City Record-Eagle)

New SW Michigan Winery Embraces Essential Michigan Style (Michigan Vintner)

On the Michigan Wine Trail in Southwest Michigan (Behind the Mitten)

Exploring Michigan's wine country at Rove Estate (WOOD TV8)

Great season, technology has winegrapes grower beaming (Fruit Growers News)

Hidden Gems of the Vineyard: Michigan's underrated, overlooked wines (Revue)

European wine shortage might not affect price of Michigan wine (Capital News Service)

Tabor Hill gets new logo, label (Herald-Palladium)