May 2023 Newsletter
Celebrate Michigan Wine Month with the Taste Michigan Cool is Hot launch, Help us find candidates for the first ever MWC Inclusion & Expansion Educational Fund Scholarship, Save the Dates for the upcoming Michigan Governor’s Cup events, Read the most recent Wine Law from Mark Vanneste, Learn about Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development 2024 Rural Development Fund Grants Guidelines, Mark your calendar for the second WineAmerica Nutrition Label Listening Session, Read the newest issue of Michigan Uncorked, Check out the 2023 Vintage Michigan brochure, and More! |
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This Just In! Cool is Hot by Taste Michigan!
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When it comes to Michigan wine, the thing to know is “Cool Is Hot.”
That’s the theme of a new ad campaign from Taste Michigan, It’s also big news for wine drinkers: The cool climate wines Michigan is known for are enjoying fresh attention from enthusiasts and casual fans alike.
“Cool climate and cold hardy wines unify Michigan’s growers and wineries,” said Brian Lillie, Vice President of the Michigan Wine Collaborative and Director of Hospitality and Distribution at Chateau Chantal Winery. “By acreage, they’re 18 of our top 20 wine grapes. Total acreage is up nearly 200% over the past 20 years. And they’re winning internationally recognized awards. We’ve got the weather, geography and people to turn those grapes into something wonderful.”
Cool Is Hot reflects a recent trend of more people discovering how delicious cool climate wines can be – and how good Michigan’s are. With bright, eye-catching graphics, the message is showing up across the Detroit and Grand Rapids regions on billboards, digital ads, social media and print. A radio commercial featuring a custom Cool Is Hot dance track is also running.
Help us spread the word by engaging with the social media campaign being promoted on the Taste Michigan and Michigan Wine Collaborative social media accounts. Also, check out and share the official Cool is Hot playlist on the MWC YouTube at the link below:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcVCNnqM4hjeYkNc8uHioqpN1uTvxQ9Oc |
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Taste Michigan Merch Now Available!
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| Stock up Michigan wine gear for Michigan Wine Month and all year long! Check out the official Michigan Wine Collaborative online store today and often for new designs. |
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Help Us Find Candidates for the 2023 MWC Inclusion & Expansion Educational Fund Scholarship
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MWC recently launched the the Inclusion and Expansion Education Fund Scholarship application process. Awardees of the Inclusion & Expansion Educational Fund will receive the following to advance their training and career in wine:
- Funding
- Mentorship Support
- Industry Support
MWC plans to expand these benefits and the number of awardees as the educational fund progresses. The current outline of the program can be found at: docs.google.com/document/d/1kE9JwdjLz9-T7hoPbKF6NWRAAkGpElYDws9jDpjqyuE/edit?usp=sharing
The 2023 candidates of the MWC Inclusion & Expansion Education Fund should be able to display a passion for wine and/or wine grapes. The awardee(s) will be provided with funds to support their enrollment costs, study supplies, and/or aid in cost-of-living expenses while studying wine, viticulture, and/or hospitality.
Applications will be accepted from April 10th-May 15th, 2023 and recipients will be announced at the 2023 Michigan Governor’s Cup in June 2023. Candidates can apply online at: forms.gle/LhKgzdJw54yK5U5P9
This scholarship will also be partially funded by The DREAM wine collaboration. The DREAM is available now at participating Michigan retailers and online.
Keep an eye out for an upcoming Press Release regarding this historic and exciting step towards expanding the Michigan grape and wine industries! |
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Save the Date for the Upcoming 2023 Governor’s Cup Events! Seeking Volunteers!
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| MWC is planning a historic event to celebrate Michigan wine this June! Make sure to save the date for the first annual 2023 Michigan Governor’s Cup Award Gala & Dinner at the Lansing Center. This event will take place on Wednesday June 28, 2023 and feature an elegant dinner and award ceremony celebrating the winning wines of the 2023 Michigan Governor’s Cup. In addition, we will be presenting the first ever MWC Inclusion & Expansion Educational Fund Scholarship award.
We will also be hosting a more casual tasting event for the trade and the public to taste through the wines from the Governor’s Cup Evaluation and provide an opportunity to mingle with winemakers, growers, and more from the Michigan wine industry. The tasting event will be on Thursday June 29th at the Lansing Art Gallery & Education Center.
These will be an epic and historic event you will not want to miss.
Tickets go on sale Monday 5/15! Members of the trade with purchasing decisions are welcome for a complimentary tasting session on 6/29 at the Lansing Art Gallery. MWC and Premium Vintage Michigan members will receive a discount code next week for their admission. All admissions are very limited so please register ASAP to ensure entry.
MWC and Premium Vintage Michigan members are encourage to volunteer for either or both events. Reach out at the button below to find out more information! |
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May’s Wine Law with Mark Vanneste
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MWC is excited to invite you to indulge in the May Wine Law feature, with Mark Vanneste. The full Wine Law articles are currently available on our website. Tune in monthly as Mark covers a new topic relevant to the Michigan grape and wine industries. So without further ado here’s a word from Mark on the three tier system and the state of Michigan…
“In Michigan, the month of May is Wine Month – and this May is a special one with the launch of
the Taste Michigan brand and the “Cool is Hot” marketing campaign promoting Michigan wine.
(Special shout out to Mark Lantz and his team at Factory Detroit who’ve done an outstanding job
working with the Michigan Wine Collaborative on the brand and campaign.) I thought for Wine
Month’s Wine Law article, I would briefly discuss the legal framework in which wineries,
growers, vintners, distributors, retailers, restaurants, etc. must operate.
Of course, I am referring to Michigan’s three-tier system – which is, depending on who’s in
attendance, a topic that should be widely avoided at dinner parties along with politics and
religion. For the unaware, the production, distribution, and sale of alcohol in Michigan is
divided into three defined tiers – producers, wholesalers, and retailers…”
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CADUS-AnA Custom Barrel Ordering Deadline Approaching!
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From the raw materials to the glass…at Tonnellerie Cadus and AnA Selection, we select the best oak for quality, results and repeatable house style. It’s just like with growing grapes: Wineries keep the best for themselves and sell what they don’t need to make their special product. With our stave mill at the roots of our company, we do the same thing with French oak barrels.
It’s time to consider your barrel purchasing decisions for 2023! Custom orders are due before JUNE 1, 2023!
Contact Gina Shay at [email protected] or 585-705-7500 for a consultation. |
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Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Announces Public Input for 2024 Rural Development Fund Grants Guidelines
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The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) today announced a public input opportunity for the Rural Development Fund Grants Program. To ensure effective program priorities, MDARD is asking for public input by emailing your comments to [email protected] by June 6, 2023.
The grant funds, established by Public Act 411 of 2012, aim to promote the sustainability of land-based industries (food and agriculture; forestry; mining, oil and gas production; and tourism). Currently established priorities include infrastructure development, workforce training, business development, and rural capacity building that benefits rural communities.
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WineAmerica to Host Second Nutrition Labeling Listening Session
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| WineAmerica is hosting a second listening session on the very important issue of nutritional labeling on May 24th. These sessions are only open to WineAmerica members. As a current member, MWC encourages you to join this organization if your budget allows. WineAmerica works on the federal level to protect your business. The information and representation they provide is invaluable to the industry. Consider joining at www.wineamerica.org/membership.
The second listening session on Nutrition Information and Ingredient Labeling. This session will cover two vital areas:
- How labeling laws in the European Union are influencing regulations and commerce in the United States and around the world
- How American consumer attitudes on labeling are prompting TTB action
When: Wednesday, May 24 at 3pm EDT. 75 min.
Where: Zoom – Register Here
Who: WineAmerica members only. In addition to WineAmerica’s Michael Kaiser, this session will feature guest speakers:
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Read the Newest Issue of Michigan Uncorked
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| The newest issue of Michigan Uncorked has arrived! And just in time for Michigan Wine Month! Indulge in the latest issue to read about Michigan Malbec and Sangiovese, innovative wine pairings in the Motorcity, MSU’s impact on Michigan grape & wine industries, and MORE!! |
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Ink by Hudson Group Nears Opening Date
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| The Ink by Hudson Group Michigan wine bar and bookshop is preparing for their Grand Opening at the Gerald R. Ford Airport. This exciting new Hudson location features the Michigan Wine Collaborative wine bar. This wine bar boasts Michigan Wine Collaborative member wineries and utilizes self serve pouring systems for wine lovers to enjoy our member wines as they travel to their next destination.
Keep an eye out for an official press release announcing more details on the Michigan wine bar and bookshop as well as an official opening date.
Are you interested in your wines being featured at Ink by Hudson? All you need to do is be an active Michigan Wine Collaborative member and have the ability to keg your wines. Reach out to Emily at the button below to get more information. |
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Check Out the 2023 Vintage Michigan Brochure!
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| Vintage Michigan Wine Club is excited to announce the release of the 2023 Participants Brochure. Check out the newest edition of the exclusive discounts available to our Vintage Michigan members. These discounts include offerings from Michigan wineries, retailers, restaurants, and wine country lodging establishments. Vintage Michigan members must present their physical or digital in order to take advantage of these discounts. Check out the new brochure at the link below…
VM BROCHURE 2023 (wildapricot.org)
Make sure to kick Michigan Wine Month off right by getting some use out of your Vintage Michigan membership! Not a member of Vintage Michigan? SIGN UP TODAY!!! Follow the link below….
Vintage Michigan – Join (wildapricot.org)
Also, keep an eye on the Vintage Michigan Event Calendar for the most up to date information on events celebrating Michigan Wine Month. We will be keeping this calendar updated all year long so make sure to check in often to keep Michigan wine events on your calendar. This is going to be an epic vintage for the Michigan wine industry and all Michigan wine lovers. Visit the calendar at the link below…
Vintage Michigan – Events (wildapricot.org)
Make sure to follow Vintage Michigan on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to stay engaged with the wine club on the web. |
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Happy Anniversary to Michigan Wine Company!
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Michigan Wine Company is celebrating their 3rd anniversary the weekend of June 10/11.
Live music on the patio both Saturday and Sunday 3-6pm.
New wine releases: 2022 Frontenac Gris, 2022 Sauvignon Blanc, & 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon. |
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Happy Michigan Wine Month! The Michigan wine community has so many exciting things to keep on your radar for May and the launch of summer. We will continue to publicize and amplify winery events all over the state for Michigan Wine Month. The MWC launched our Taste Michigan Cool Is Hot campaign, so consumers will be enjoying social media, billboards, print ads, and radio spots letting them know why cool climate Michigan wines are for them. Our merch store is live with Taste Michigan and Cool Is Hot shirts available for wholesale and retail purchase; contact us for custom orders. The MWC Inclusion/Expansion scholarship applications process has begun, and we will be giving away our first wine education scholarship at this summer’s Governor’s Cup awards gala on June 28th in Lansing. The Governor’s Cup results will be back to us on May 31st from Beverage Testing Institute and will be shared shortly thereafter as gold-medal winning wines and higher will be poured at the Governor’s Cup Wine Showcase (public and trade tasting) on June 29th in Lansing. The Michigan Wine Collaborative will be holding its annual meeting on June 29th in Lansing – save the date! There is much to celebrate, friends. Cheers!
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Michigan Wine in the News
Check out notable mentions in the media featuring Michigan Wine Collaborative members and promoting the Michigan Wine Industry.
Click Here to Read the News!
*Did we miss an important Michigan wine news story? E-mail us HERE! |
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The Michigan Wine Collaborative appreciates support from the following Sponsors and Supplier/Vendor Members:
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| 2023 MWC Sponsors & Donors |
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| 2023 MWC Suppliers & Vendors |
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Are you interested in promotional opportunities for your business? Check out our partnership opportunities HERE!
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