NW Winery- Jay Briggs
Winemaker, 45 North Vineyard & Winery
Northern Michigan wine runs through Jay Briggs’ veins. Descended from grandparents who met when picking grapes in the Lake Michigan Shore district, Jay Briggs studied viticulture and oenology at Michigan State before coming North to intern at Black Star Farms, manage vineyards at Shady Lane and in 2013 take over as cellar master and winemaker at Forty-Five North. What can you say about Jay, he’s the heart of the winery. You can find him in the production building most of the time except when the guys are sneaking out to sample at other wineries, breweries, or cideries. Like they say, it takes a lot of good beer to make good wine … and they like to test that theory. It seems to be working so far. His exuberant personality brings a lot of fun days and laughs to the winery. He might not be too serious, but he is serious about his wines. He enjoys experimenting and creating new products like our Wild Cider and Citra Cider.
NW Winery- Joshua Morgan
Head Winemaker, Petoskey Farms Vineyard & Winery
Josh Morgan grew up in Northern Michigan, in the rural town of Mio. After graduating high school, he attended Central Michigan University and graduated in 2006 with his B.A. in Commercial Parks and Recreation Management. Upon graduation, he moved to Traverse City where he got his start in the wine industry working in the tasting room at Black Star Farms Winery. Shortly after starting in the tasting room an opportunity opened in the cellar to help with bottling, and from there he transitioned into a cellar hand roll. Josh spent nine years working his way up through different roles in the cellar until he achieved the role of Cellar Master.
The opportunity at Black Star Farms allowed him to learn from some of the best winemakers in Northern Michigan, from the delicacies of Riesling, the romance of Pinot Noir and everything in between.
Outside of work Josh also works as a Paid-on-Call Firefighter for the Petoskey Department of Public Safety. When he’s not working, he is spending time with his wife and his Mountain Cur – Max. They enjoy hiking and spending time outdoors and finding the next best ice cream parlor!
NW Grape Grower- Tom Petzold
Research & Education Committee Chair
Tom Petzold and his wife established, own and operate Ten Hands Vineyards in Old Mission, facing the East Arm of the Grand Traverse Bay. They grow Riesling and Chardonnay for Bowers Harbor Vineyards, where Tom has worked in various capacities for over 12 years. Tom’s employment at the historic Pontchartrain Wine Cellars restaurant in Detroit (1970s) gave him his first exposure to the world of fine wine. His 17-years living in Europe, while studying & serving in the U.S Air Force, afforded him opportunities to deepen his love, knowledge and respect for fine wine. Tom and his wife, Claudine, have always found time to explore some of the oldest and most recognized wine regions in the world, and gladly embraced the European tradition of enjoying wine as a part of daily life. Committed to surviving the growing pains and opportunities of a young wine industry in Michigan, Tom enjoys working with the tens of partners in the vineyards and wine cellars in the NW region. He served six years (four as VP) on the Parallel 45 Wines and Vines LLC BOD, which is the region’s volunteer organization for research, education and collaboration among growers, MSU, MSU/Ext, winemakers and wine enthusiasts. Tom is a founding member of the MWC and has chaired the R/E Committee since its beginning.
SW Winery- Matt Moersch
Partner, Winemaker and Distiller
Round Barn Winery, Distillery & Brewery, Baroda, Michigan
Free Run Cellars, Berrien Springs, Michigan
Sustainability Chair
Winemaker and Distiller Matt Moersch is partner of The Round Barn Winery and co-founder of Free Run Cellars. An industry veteran of years, Moersch has served as winemaker and distiller of Round Barn since 2003 and has served as winemaker for Free Run Cellars since 2006.
Moersch has been a leading figure in building the nationally recognized reputation of Michigan’s famed Lake Michigan Shore AVA (American Viticulture Area). Known for his uniquely broad portfolio, Moersch has crafted more than 40 different styles of dry and sweet wines; more than 100 unique beer recipes; and 20 different types of fortified wines and spirits, such as bourbon, rum, and vodka.
His career began picking grapes on the family’s vineyard with his brother, Chris, with whom he currently runs both Round Barn and Free Run. Apprenticing with his father, Round Barn’s founder Richard Moersch, Matt learned to make wines and spirits in one of America’s most diverse viticultural regions. He continued his studies with world-renowned winemakers and growers in France’s Burgundy, Champagne, and Alsace regions; Germany’s Rhine region; and Hungary’s ancient Tokay region. While focused on French-style wines and spirits, Matt draws from the vast diversity of European winemaking and distillation traditions, which he avidly explores first-hand, to develop the diverse, award-winning portfolio for which Round Barn and Free Run are celebrated.
At both wineries, he oversees and collaborates with winemaker Brian Carlson, the 25-year veteran of California, Oregon, and Washington wineries Moersch brought to Southwest Michigan in 2016. But Moersch’s focus has always been vineyard, and he has spent his career stewarding the vines and soil, working to understand the nuances of his vineyards’ microclimate in order to sustainably nurture his grapes to give up their best juice.
Spearheading a new state-wide sustainability initiative, Great Lakes Sustainable Wine Alliance (GLSWA), Moersch is working to bring Round Barn’s sustainability mindset to a broader coalition of neighboring winegrowers. Modeled on Oregon’s premier LIVE certification, the GLSWA will encompass agricultural, cellar, and business practices; including key issues such as the elimination of herbicides from Michigan vineyards and aggressive water-reduction practices.
“Good wine is made in the vineyard. So, I always begin by understanding how I can better serve the grapes by honoring where they grow. When the vines are happy, the wine is too.”
Moersch is Vice President of The Michigan Wine Collaborative (MWC) and serves on the Michigan and Wine Industry Council. All of Moersch’s properties are MAEAP-verified.
SW Grape Grower- Todd Robbins
Vineyard Manager, Glenn Vineyards
SE Winery- Bob Otter
Owner, Flying Otter Winery
Bob grew up in western Nebraska and graduated from the University of Nebraska with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. Bob had a 35+ year career in Design Engineering, Engineering Management, and Engineering Consulting that took him to Wisconsin, Texas, Michigan, and as it turned out, too much time in France where he fell in love with French wine and cheese. Bob followed his passion for wine and started a vineyard in 2005 near Adrian, MI., adding additional vines and varieties until 2016. The Flying Otter Vineyard focuses on cold hardy varieties that thrive in SE Michigan. Bob received formal training
and edcation in viticulture and eonology through the VESTA program which led to the opening of The Flying Otter Winery in 2011 featuring estate grown and produced wines.
UP Winery- Dave Anthony
Owner, Winemaker & Vineyard Manager, Northern Sun Winery
1999 – Wine Grape Grower and Northern Sun Winery Owner
Grower of wine grapes at commercial scale.
Operate a small winery, producing award winning estate grown wines.
1999 – 2018 Director of Community Development and Government Affairs for the Hannahville Indian Community.
Develop and maintain for the Tribe a good working relationships with federal, state and local governments.
Investigate and develop business opportunities for the Tribe.
Work with news organizations, the press, and other communication networks to advance tribal interests.
2004 Instructor, Bay DeNoc Community College.
Taught Political Science course.
1991-1998 Legislator 108th District Michigan House of Representatives.
Authored numerous Public Acts.
Elected Democratic Whip. Led several floor fights.
Chaired the Committee on Forestry and Mineral Rights, and the Committee on Agriculture.
Served at various times on the following committees: Judiciary, Local Government, Natural Resources, Recreation and the Environment, Economic Development, Veterans and Senior Citizens, and Ports and Marinas.
1979 – 1990 Upper Peninsula Regional Representative for United States Senator Carl Levin.
Conducted public meetings on the Senator’s behalf.
Helped craft federal legislation.
Traveled the region with the Senator, and escorted him to events.
Reported regularly to the Senator on activities in the Upper Peninsula. Coordinated federal and local government entities to advance economic and social objectives. Mediated disputes between federal and local government departments.
Grape Grower Other Region- Jessica Youngblood
Owner & Vineyard Manager, Youngblood Vineyard
Cold Climate Committee Chair
In 2016, Jess Youngblood and her husband Dave traded in their fields of soybeans, corn and Christmas trees and planted wine grapes on their 46 acre family farm. Youngblood Vineyard is home to nearly 21,000 cold-hardy wine grape varieties of which there are 3 white and 3 red. Currently growing are Marquette, Itasca, Frontenac, Frontenac Blanc, Prairie Star, and Petite Pearl. They look forward to this new adventure and sharing the experience with friends, family, and the community as they continue to expand their vineyard.
Jessica is also on the Board of Directors at the National Grape Research filling their Midwest Regional Representative seat.
Tourism- Ed Peabody
Director, HOUR Custom Publishing
HOUR Media
Ed Peabody is director of custom publishing for Hour Media in Troy, Mich., and has 15 years of experience working in the Michigan wine industry to produce Michigan Wine Country magazine. Ed joined Hour in 2000 to spearhead the company’s diversification into content marketing and book publishing. Before that, he was vp-group publisher at Campbell-Ewald, where he worked on integrated marketing initiatives for a variety of multinational clients in the automotive, financial services, and information technology industries. A lifelong Michigander, Ed has a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Honors English from Wayne State University in Detroit.
OPEN – Restaurant/Retail
OPEN – NE Winery
Interesting in joining the board or a committee? Contact us for more information.
