Congratulations! to all the award winners from the 37th Annual Michigan Wine Competition held in East Lansing in early August.
 Best of Class trophy winners: Back row, from left: Vladimir Blanov, Lee Lutes, Josh Morgan (Black Star Farms); John Kroupa (Peninsula Cellars); Dean Bender (Lawton Ridge Winery); Ryan and Kris Sterkenburg (Gill's Pier); Jay Briggs (45 North); Shannon Walters (Blustone Vineyards); Taylor Simpson (Aurora Cellars). Front row: Aimee Plamondon, Katie Fenlon (Chateau de Leelanau).
Twenty-five wine experts from around the country gathered to evaluate the 450 entries. Judges included Master Sommelier Ron Edwards; Doug Frost, who is both a Master of Wine and Master Sommelier; and internationally known authors, winemakers and wine educators. The Grape and Wine Industry Council appreciates the guidance of Competition Superintendent Chris Cook, who judged at the competition for 12 years before becoming its superintendent in 2001.
Read the press release.
Wineries may request feedback for specific wines entered in the competition. The judges record notes on wines they evaluate throughout the day and retain them following the competition, but there is no guarantee that they would have detailed comments regarding any particular wine. We are willing to make the requests and share any information without identifying judges by name. Please send your request to Karel Bush bushk9@michigan.gov with the names of the wines for which you would like feedback. It will take a few weeks to collect and send this information to you.
Some of the media exposure surrounding the competition:
Michigan wines face off in annual competition (Hour Detroit)
Wine About It: Taste Michigan's Best New Wines This Evening (Yahoo! News)
Michigan's Varietal Variety (Dave McIntyre's WineLine)
The results of the 2014 Michigan Wine Competition are in! (Michigan by the Bottle)
Rieslings on top at Michigan Wine Competition in East Lansing (Detroit News)
Michigan wines awarded Best of Class: 8 bottles to uncork this year (mlive.com)
Raise your glass for Michigan's best wines (Lansing State Journal)
37th Annual Michigan Wine Competition Results Announced (Midwest Beer and Wine)
Michigan Wine Competition Results (Midwest Wine Press)
Application Deadline September 19, 2014, 3:00pm EDT
A grant will be awarded this fall by the Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council to conduct a feasibility study with the industry regarding a Winery Sustainability Program that would be developed over several years, tailored to the needs and practices of the Michigan wine industry. The work, funded by a USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant (provisional approval received) will be conducted between November 2014 and September 2015.
If you know of any individuals or companies that may be interested in submitting a proposal to the Council to conduct this study, please direct them to the Request for Proposals.
It seems that we are all being asked to complete surveys more often than we’d like. But some of them can have significant impacts on the reputation of the Michigan wine industry, so I encourage you to give these a moment’s thought before you are quick to hit the delete button or toss the forms in the trash bin. I’ve noticed recently that Michigan is showing up in charts published in trade journals like Wine Business Monthly as the industry reaches a size where industry survey results for our state are able to be reported due to a large enough sample size.
An important survey that will be heading your way in Winter 2014/2015 is the USDA NASS Fruit Acreage Inventory, which is critical for obtaining an accurate measure of the size of the wine grape industry in comparison to other states. Wine grape acreage is one of the most meaningful metrics available to document the growth of the Michigan wine industry. If you have any questions about the survey, its mechanics and purpose, please contact me any time: Linda Jones, JonesL9@michigan.gov, 517-284-5741.
 This is the Midwest's largest one-day bridal show, drawing more than 1,200 brides and 5,000 total attendees each year. The Council has purchased a booth and will distribute information about vineyard and winery weddings, as well as general wine touring information. The show website is www.cbride.com.
The Council's website has a page - www.michiganwines.com/weddings - that lists Michigan vineyards and wineries that offer their location/services for weddings, receptions, showers, etc. If you would like to be listed on the page, please contact Karel Bush, bushk9@michigan.gov.
|
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced investments to help rural businesses grow, diversify and create jobs. USDA is investing $25 million to help 247 businesses nationwide expand their operations and create new products to market. There are approximately 25 winery-related projects across the U.S. that received funding, including four from Michigan:
- Lemon Creek Winery
- Bonobo Winery
- Blake Farms Hard Cider
- Peninsula Cellars
The complete release and list of funded projects is available online.
Registering your production history with USDA Farm Services Agency may yield dividends in the event of crop losses in future years
 The U.S. Department of Agriculture is rolling out an important new program that will give fruit growers who were impacted by the devastating frosts and freezes in 2012 access to disaster relief assistance.
Family farms and businesses shouldn't have to go under because of a few days of bad weather. As you know, the frosts and freezes that devastated crops like cherries and apples across Michigan in 2012 threatened many family farmers who did not have access to crop insurance -- and emphasized the crucial need for disaster relief to keep farms running. When we wrote the 2014 Farm Bill, I wanted to make sure that fruit and vegetable growers had access to risk-management tools like other crop producers do.
Until September 22, eligible fruit growers in Michigan who experienced losses in 2012 due to frost or freeze, and who did not have access to crop insurance, can apply for assistance through their local Farm Service Agency office. A list of FSA field offices can be accessed on USDA's website.
For more information about the enrollment process, please visit USDA's website.
This program will help Michigan's farmers who are growing not only delicious fruit crops, but our Michigan economy as well.
|
Michigan wineries that sell wine on their websites are eligible for a free listing on the American Winery Guide (AWG). There are currently 11 Michigan wineries listed on the site (www.americanwineryguide.com/regions/michigan-wineries).
Criteria to be listed on the site:
- The wine must be reviewed and rated by a nationally recognized wine critic or have won a Gold or higher award at an international wine competition.
- The wine must be listed on the winery's website with the ability for AWG to link directly to the wine.
- The wine must be available for sale through the website.
- Rose, sparkling, and dessert wines are typically not included.
Contact Jim Finley for more information - jimfinley@americanwineryguide.com.
The Viticulture and Enology Science and Technology Alliance (VESTA) offers online education programs in viticulture and enology. It is a partnership of educational institutions across the country bringing together information and resources of the grape and wine industry with funding from the National Science Foundation. New courses have been added in New Wine Business Feasibility, Accounting for Wine Business, and Survey of Viticulture and Enology for Wine Business.
The MSU Institute of Agricultural Technology is a partner institution with VESTA, creating easy access for Michigan residents to the national network for education, hands-on learning, and job placement in grape production and wine making. The following news is available in the July 2014 VESTA News:
VESTA website: www.vesta-usa.org
VESTA News July 2014
VESTA "News You Can Use" article on Grape Berry Ripening
 The Straits Area Grape Growers Association Summer Conference took place August 9 at Crooked Vine Vineyard and Winery, in Alanson. Speakers included Dr. Rufus Isaacs, Department of Entomology, Michigan State University; Megan Budd, Vineyard Manager and Horticulturist, Mackinaw Trail Winery, Petoskey; and David Anthony, Northern Sun Winery, Bark River.
For more information about the Association, contact Geoff Frey at 231-881-6582.
|
'Cluster effect' crucial to a wine region's success, say researchers
USDA FSA Direct Farm Ownership Loan Program - Deadline September 30
Organic Certification Cost Share Assistance Available to Michigan Organic Producers and Handlers - Deadline September 30
... to Sean O’Keefe, Chateau Grand Traverse; Amanda Danielson, Trattoria Stella and The Franklin; Andy McFarlane, Absolute Michigan; and many winemakers from around the state for creating a watershed event in Traverse City in July around Stuart Pigott's visit to Michigan and the release of his book "Best White Wine on Earth."
... to MSU's Tom Smith for his recent appointment to the VESTA National Management Team.
... to Bowers Harbor Vineyards for winning Chairman's Best of Class at the Long Beach Grand Cru Wine Competition, for their 2012 Block II Riesling.
... to wineries winning top honors at the Indy International Wine Competition: Mackinaw Trail Winery, Double Gold and Best of Class for 2012 Cabernet Merlot; St. Julian Winery, Double Gold and Best of Class for 2013 Riesling Reserve and Solera Cream Sherry; Tabor Hill Winery, Double Gold and Best of Class for 2012 Kerner; and Shady Lane Cellars, Double Gold for 2012 Semi-Dry Riesling.
Note: We do our best to keep abreast of all the great things happening in the industry. Be sure to notify us of any big awards, expansions, and other news.
Michigan Reels from Winter's Fury (Dave McIntyre's WineLine)
Chateau Grand Traverse Revolutionizes Northern Michigan Wine (mynorth.com)
First-ever Bruce Simpson Winemaker Scholarships to be awarded (Grand Traverse Insider)
Michigan's Grape Southwest (The Herald-Palladium)
Midwest prepares for reduced grape harvest (Midwest Wine Press)
Q&A with Adam Satchwell from Shady Lane Cellars (mynorth.com)
From the vine to home: Making the most of Michigan's grape harvest (Macomb Daily)
Interview with Forty-Five North's Jay Briggs (mynorth.com)
Mission: unmissable (City Pulse)
Tony Ciccone: "Winemaking is in my DNA" (Midwest Wine Press)
Wine grape growers need to think ahead to the 2015 growing season (MSU Extension)
Feast on the Flavors of Pure Michigan (MI Dept of Ag & Rural Development media release)
Visit www.michiganwines.com/news to view press releases relevant to the Michigan wine industry.
| 
