It’s here! And growing stronger every year with great support from wineries, retailers, restaurants and the media. This week, wineries will receive a copy of the press release and Proclamation by Governor Rick Snyder of April as Michigan Wine Month.
There is a lot going on throughout the state, and many of the events are posted on the Council's event calendar. Be sure to send your events throughout the year to Sherri Goodreau goodreaus@michigan.gov.
Read a great article by Cortney Casey, on Hour Detroit's website, about the April 20 Michigan Wines Showcase event in Detroit, the Council's signature event for April.
Public comment period closes April 10
The TTB has issued a new Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would change how American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) can be used on a wine label. WineAmerica www.wineamerica.org is following this issue closely and is seeking input from members regarding the potential impacts of such a change in use for AVAs.
The rule that the TTB is proposing would allow wineries in adjacent states to be allowed to use the single-state AVA from the bordering state. For example, a Pennsylvania winery would be able to purchase grapes from the Finger Lakes AVA and use the Finger Lakes AVA on the label, if the wine is fully finished in Pennsylvania. The regulations currently state that a Pennsylvania winery can purchase Finger Lakes grapes and use a "New York" state appellation of origin.
The TTB would like to hear from the public on this proposal and is accepting public comments until April 10. To submit comments and to read the full Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, please visit: Use of American Viticultural Area Names as Appellations of Origin on Wine Labels
WineAmerica provides valuable services to its members, including supplier discounts, assistance with label approvals and advocacy on federal regulations. Important information on TTB's rules on the use of social media to promote a winery is available in the "members only" section of the association's website.
Lansing Community College will offer an online course May 6-June 6 devoted to providing information to festival and event organizers, staff and volunteers. Topics covered include volunteer management, marketing, legal aspects, sponsorships and more. For more information, contact Carolyn Dembowski at 517-483-1860.
Be sure to check the events calendar at www.michiganwines.com for other professional development events, industry meetings, etc.
 Sean O’Keefe (Villa Mari Vineyards) and Amanda Danielson (Trattoria Stella) invite wineries to participate in the 2015 City of Riesling. Wineries from the entire state are encouraged to participate in this event that draws attention from the global wine community.
Detailed information here.
The organizers of the event need financial support to make City of Riesling viable. They have developed opportunities to sponsor specific events or aspects thereof in ways that will maximize your exposure.
Sponsorship Request Letter
Sponsorship Opportunities
If you would like to support the event in other ways, or would like to suggest organizations that might be interested in sponsoring the event, please contact Amanda directly at Amanda@offthemaphospitality.com.
Key Dates and Deadlines:
Today: Please consider a sponsorship.
May 15: Deadline for advance ticket purchase
June 3: Deadline to submit wine samples and winery representative information
July 26: Night of 100 Rieslings
July 27: Salon Riesling
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 The 2015 edition of the ever-popular Michigan Wine Country magazine is now in distribution to consumers, wineries, Welcome Centers and more than 200 other points of distribution around the state.
Magazines for members of Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail, Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula, and Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail were sent to the following central locations, respectively: Leelanau Peninsula trail office in Suttons Bay, Chateau Chantal, Lemon Creek Winery. This consolidation of deliveries saves the Council thousands in shipping costs, and we appreciate the willingness of these locations to help out.
Check out the digital edition.
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The next meeting of the Council will be held May 21 from 11:00 am-1:30 pm at the Bayshore Resort in Traverse City. David West, newly hired V.P. of Travel Michigan will be the featured speaker. Please contact Sherri Goodreau at 517-284-5733 or goodreaus@michigan.gov a few days prior to the meeting to confirm time and receive a copy of the agenda via e-mail.
For a list of current Council members, minutes of meetings and other information about the Council visit the Industry tab at www.michiganwines.com.
In your orientation program for new tasting room staff and other new employees, we suggest that you encourage them to check www.michiganwines.com regularly for industry news and to check that your winery and events are correctly listed.
New employees may also wish to receive the Council’s e-newsletter directly. The sign-up link is at the bottom of every page on the website; previous issues of the e-newsletter are archived and also may be a useful training tool.
A reminder to those wineries that partner with Vintage Michigan - please be sure all staff is familiar with the discount you offer to Vintage Michigan members. If you have questions about your partnership, please contact Karel Bush, 517-284-5742, bushk9@michigan.gov.
Chateau Fontaine is seeking a full time, motivated, sales/delivery person, for statewide distribution of wine. Must be 21 or older and have an excellent driving record. People friendly, computer skilled. Able to lift 40 pounds. Includes working Tasting Room Sales! Please e-mail resume to dlmatthies@aol.com.
At their March 6 meeting, the Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council recognized the following businesses as "producers of Michigan wine" after reviewing their applications. A listing for each of these will be added to www.michiganwines.com.
Kayla Rae Cellars - Rockford
Torch Lake Cellars - Bellaire
Crane's Winery - Fennville
Westview Orchards - Washington
Research reports for five Council-funded projects conducted by Michigan State University faculty during 2014 are now available on the Council's website: www.michiganwines.com/2014-research-reports.
Survey forms were mailed to USDA's database of Michigan fruit growers in early February with completed forms to be returned as soon as possible. Wineries and vineyard management companies are encouraged to work closely with their growers to ensure that accurate information is submitted without duplication or omissions. Assistance in completing the survey is available from USDA staff by calling (800) 453-7501. Follow up by USDA staff started in March.
The results of the 2014 Fruit Survey will be available in late fall 2015 and will provide a summary of the fruit acreage in Michigan and the varieties that have been planted. The Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council uses the data provided by this survey to document the growth of the Michigan wine grape industry, and the data is used on a national basis to compare Michigan with other states’ wine grape acreage. For example: Michigan wine industry Fast Facts
If you have any questions about how the Council uses this industry-submitted information, please contact Linda Jones, 517-284-5741, jonesl9@michigan.gov.
Click here for a special video message from Council Chair Gordon Wenk regarding the importance of a high level of survey completion for the Michigan wine industry.
 A group of winery representatives and local economic development staff from the Traverse City area teamed up in 2013 and were successful in obtaining funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to develop a pilot training program for the Michigan wine industry that would incorporate Wine Fluency, Customer Service and TAM Training.
Curriculum was developed and a pilot program was conducted during 2014, the results of which were presented at the Grape and Wine Conference in early March. A second grant application has been submitted to USDA to roll out the training across the state in six locations in 2016. Watch for announcements on this later this fall.
The pilot project planning team was honored with one of three Governor’s Tourism Collaboration Awards presented this year at the Governor’s Tourism Conference in Grand Rapids on March 23. Pictured are steering committee members (from left to right) - Kirstin Policastro, Modern Commercial Capital LLC; Dan Boss, Networks Northwest; Meridith Lauzon, Left Foot Charley; and Brian Lillie, Chateau Chantal (holding the unique collaboration trophy created in the Greenfield Village Glassworks specifically for these awards).
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 In partnership with Travel Michigan, the Council has embarked on a radio campaign in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a series of digital ads on online new media channels around the region from April through August. Please pass along to Karel Bush, any comments from tasting room visitors about the ads featuring Michigan wines that they may have seen or heard in 2015. Feedback helps in planning effective campaigns for future years.
As part of the partnership agreement, Michigan Wines has a hotspot that appears on every page of www.michigan.org, which we have found in the past to be very effective in driving traffic to the Council’s site and ultimately to winery websites.
This Pure Michigan Summer video captures the essence of the Michigan wine industry very well. If you are interested in learning about ways your winery or trail can take advantage of promotional opportunities with Travel Michigan/Pure Michigan (many of them for free), please review this presentation (from the 2015 Conference) and contact Linda Jones,517-284-5741 for more information.
Recent press release: Tourism Industry, Pure Michigan Campaign Helping to Drive State’s Economy
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 Early registration deadline April 10
Final registration deadline May 11
Eleven import-ready wine buyers from Central America and the Caribbean are registered for an upcoming buyers mission June 23-25 in Miami. Of the 16 buyers attending this mission, buyers from Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Virgin Islands, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Panama, St. Kitts, and St. Lucia are licensed to import wine and have wine listed as a product of interest along with other alcoholic beverages and processed food products. This mission is one of the fastest to fill up, so early registration is encouraged. Register online.
For more information on how wineries may qualify for financial assistance to support export development, contact Hannah Bollinger at the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development bollingerh@michigan.gov, 517-284-5737.
Bi-monthly issues of the "New Market Developer" newsletter can be viewed online and are available at www.michigan.gov/agexport.
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The judging will occur in East Lansing on August 11, and the Gold Medal Wine Reception will be held at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center on August 20. Entry materials will be mailed in June, with deadlines mid to late July.
 The 2015 Grape and Wine Conference at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center in early March was another successful event for the industry.
Speaker presentations are now available at www.michiganwines.com/conference. Please contact Karel Bush if you would like to receive a copy of David Steel’s presentation (available to conference registrants only).
Attendees are encouraged to complete a short online survey by April 10 to assist the planning committee for future conferences.
Save the date for the 2016 Conference, February 24-26 at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in Kalamazoo.
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  Thanks again to our generous sponsors ...
Dinner and Keynote Speaker Sponsor:
 Reserve Sponsor
 Reserve Sponsor
 Vintage Sponsor
 Vintage Sponsor
 Vintage Sponsor
... Round Barn Brewery & Public House for being named "Business of the Year" by the Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce
... Black Star Farms (Arcturos Pinot Blanc), Boathouse Vineyards (Semi-Sweet Riesling), and St. Ambrose Cellars (Cherry Amore) for Double Gold Awards at the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition. View complete results.
Great Lakes Wine Institute Shows Off (Moody on the Market)
College introduces director, shows off gear (The Herald Palladium)
Michigan wine industry considers launching sustainability certification program (Traverse City Record-Eagle)
As Michigan Wine Industry Grows, State Council Looks Towards Sustainability (WMUK Radio)
Wine Sales Popular at Michigan Farmers Markets (Michigan Farmers Market Association)
A thirst for hard cider has Blake's Orchard sowing seeds (Crain's Detroit Business)
Vintners say making ice wine worth the risks (Indianapolis Star)
New Research Report Reveals Influence of Mobile Apps on Wine Purchases (PR Newswire)
Traverse City proves a great choice for annual girls’ getaway weekend (Toledo Blade)
Not Just Sugary-Sweet, Hard Cider Makes A Comeback (NPR)
MI Invests in Sustainable Wine Production with $75K USDA Grant (Specialty Food News)
Michigan wine industry considers launching sustainability certification program (Traverse City Record-Eagle)
bigLITTLE’s Approach to Small Batch Wines (Midwest Wine Press)
Len Olson left behind a wine legacy (Michigan Radio)
Another tough winter for wineries (Traverse City Record-Eagle)
Michigan hard cider producers form new industry association (mibiz.com)
First commercial teaching winery in Midwest launches in Southwest Michigan (mlive.com)
Vander Mill Cider to invest $4 million in Grand Rapids facility (mibiz.com)
Visit www.michiganwines.com/news to view media releases relevant to the Michigan wine industry.
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