MWC is committed to creating and maintaining sustainability of the Michigan grape wine industries by investing in advancing and expanding environmental efforts, inclusion & expansion projects, workforce development initiatives, and more!
In 2024, we are excited to begin rolling out a new sustainability certification pilot program. Originally developed by LIVE in collaboration with, VineBalance for Michigan, will work hand in hand with the Sustainable Agriculture App, a collaboration with MSU.
Chairs- Sidney Finan and Maxx Eichberg; Stranger Wine Company
Matt Moersch; Round Barn Winery, Tabor Hill Winery, and Free Run Cellars
Brian Lillie; Chateau Chantal
Izabela Babinska; Folklor Wine & Cider
Mike Formisano; MAWBY
Chantal Lefebvre; Waterfire Vineyards
Kevin Uhl; Black Star Farms
Brent Kumfer; The Rejoicing Vine
Dennis Devitt; Wilbur Ellis
Tom Smith; Michigan State University Extension
Karen Chou; Michigan State University
As the 2024 season starts to pick up we would like to invite you to participate in the pilot year for the 2024 Michigan VineBalance program. VineBalance is a self-assessment grower workbook that aims to help growers implement and adopt the best sustainable viticultural management practices for our climate.
The Workbook was graciously shared with us by the New York Grape and Wine foundation who published their first version of the workbook in 2007 in collaboration with Cornell Cooperative Extension, the New York Department of Agriculture, and of course the state’s grape growers.
Throughout the workbook you will find criteria for sustainable practices that allow you to score and assess your current vineyard management program. The workbook encourages growers to continue working in the direction of “best practices” and improve their score over the years.
To learn more about the program’s inception and progress over the years, as well as preview the workbook please visit:
newyorkwines.org/industry/sustainability/vinebalance-sustainable-viticulture-program/
Our hope is that we can work collaboratively throughout the 2024 growing season and beyond to modify the workbook to be best suited to our unique growing conditions in Michigan. The long term goal is to turn the VineBalance program into one of the first statewide sustainable viticulture certification programs. The sustainability committee of the Michigan Wine Collaborative has also been having discussions with LIVE to discuss getting the program LIVE accredited. This accreditation would help bring visibility to Michigan Viticulture highlighting our growers commitment to implementing internationally recognized sustainable viticulture standards.
By participating in this pilot program, you will have the opportunity to help shape the future of sustainability in our industry. We have a long way to go to see this goal be realized, but with the participation and input of our industry peers we are confident that we can do it! So with that said, if you have an interest in participating, please email the Michigan Wine Collaborative sustainability committee chair, Sidney Finan or executive director Emily Dockery to let us know of your interest. We will be sending out the grower workbook in March to interested participants, with more information on how to utilize the workbook. If interested, please send us the primary growers name and contact information.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out anytime! We hope to have you join us.
The Sustainability Management (SAM) Tool’s primary goal is to streamline decision-making for growers, delivering time and cost savings while boosting consumer confidence in Michigan wine. By offering accessible comparative data on risk, efficacy, weather conditions, and easy access to pest scouting information, the SAM Tool empowers growers to make informed decisions that balance cost, effectiveness, and the environmental impact of their practices. This comprehensive approach aids growers in reducing chemical usage, thus fostering sustainable farming practices throughout the Michigan wine industry.
The app boasts a range of features designed to enhance user experience and support
sustainable production practices. These include robust data security and accuracy measures, mapping of sub-fields, auto-populated spray records, and warnings about consecutive use of the same pesticides to mitigate the development of pesticide-resistant pests.
Additionally, the app offers an intuitive spray calendar that integrates Restricted Entry Interval (REI) and Pre-Harvest Interval (PHI) information, task assignments, centralized communication, schedule reminders for managers and workers, and the capability to upload photos and scouting notes directly from the field. Furthermore, the app facilitates data recording from remote sensors, aiding in comprehensive monitoring and analysis.
The SAM Tool empowers growers by providing comparative health and environmental risk
values, as well as a pesticide efficacy index, enabling informed decision-making for sustainable production. Moreover, it includes built-in functionalities for scoring and inspecting workbooks, aligning with third-party certification programs such as VineBalance.
Businesses around the world are devoting time and energy to increasing the sustainability of their business practices to maximize the “triple bottom line” – people, planet and profit. Terms such as “Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)” and “Low Input Viticulture and Enology (LIVE)” are used synonymously with “sustainability” to describe these efforts. The Michigan Wine Collaborative encourages its members to engage in this mission as resources allow. In many cases, regulations guide our industry towards increasing standards of sustainable practices. Click below for resources that may be helpful to members as they continue their sustainability practices journey. 
The Michigan Wine Collaborative initiated the Great Lakes Sustainable Wine Alliance (GLSWA) in 2017 as a unifying force of Michigan wine industry members who have demonstrated their commitment to sustainability practices and who are verified by the Michigan Agriculture Assurance Program www.maeap.org. Please contact Emily Dockery at [email protected] if you have questions about the program or would like be included in the list of members of the GLSWA.
Over time, the program may be expanded to include more ecosystem and habitat criteria, social equity criteria, and winery criteria. In preparation for the future, we encourage members of the industry to work through sustainability self-assessments from other regions that are available on-line. Developing your own action plan for further implementation of sustainable practices in your business will prepare you for a faster and smoother certification process later.
By becoming a member of the Michigan Wine Collaborative and the Great Lakes Sustainable Wine Alliance you will:
The Michigan Winegrape Sustainability Program Feasibility Study 2015
Wastewater Management Resources
Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program
The Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) is an innovative, proactive program that helps farms of all sizes and all commodities voluntarily prevent or minimize agricultural pollution risks. MAEAP‘s mission is to develop and implement a proactive environmental assurance program ensuring that Michigan farmers are engaging in cost-effective pollution prevention practices and working to comply with state and federal environmental regulations.
The information provided in the documents listed below and the websites of the regional organizations informed much of the discussion in developing a plan for a Michigan wine industry sustainability program, outlined in the 2015 Feasibility Report.
California
Specific Resources
Washington
Specific Resources
LIVE – Oregon, Washington, Idaho and British Columbia
Specific Resources
Long Island, New York
Virginia
British Columbia
Specific Resources
The Michigan Wine Collaborative initiated the Great Lakes Sustainable Wine Alliance (GLSWA) in 2017 to recognize members of the Collaborative who are verified by the Michigan Agriculture Assurance Program www.maeap.org. Please contact Matt Moersch, Sustainability Committee Chair matt@roundbarnwinery if you have questions about the program or would like be included in the list of members of the GLSWA.
Over time, the program may be expanded to include more ecosystem and habitat criteria, social equity criteria and winery criteria. In preparation for the future, we encourage members of the industry to work through sustainability self-assessments from other regions that are available on-line. Developing your own action plan for further implementation of sustainable practices in your business will prepare you for a faster and smoother certification process later.
By becoming a member of the Michigan Wine Collaborative and the Great Lakes Sustainable Wine Alliance you will:
