Prepare for the upcoming MWC Election and Annual Meeting, Check out a podcast featuring the Judgement of Michigan, Get involved with our Inclusion & Expansion Committee via mentorship opportunities, and more!
2022 MWC Election & Annual Meeting
The MWC Election and Annual Meeting will take place during the 2022 Orchard & Vineyard Show in Traverse City, January 17th-19th. An official date and time for this meeting will be announced at a later date.
We have some open board seats, executive postions, and committee chair posts available for dedicated MWC members looking to get involved.
OPEN BOARD SEATS 2022
GRAPE GROWER (OUTSIDE OF SW & NW MICHIGAN)
WINERY (OUTSIDE OF SW & NW MICHIGAN)
BOARD SEATS UP FOR RE-ELECTION
NW WINERY (CURRENTLY HELD BY LEE LUTES OF BLACK STAR FARMS)
SE WINERY (CURRENTLY HELD BY BOB UTTER OF FLYING OTTER WINERY)
NW GRAPE GROWER (CURRENTLY HELD BY TOM PETZOLD OF TEN HANDS VINEYARDS)
SW GRAPE GROWER (CURRENTLY HELD BY TODD ROBBINS OF MODALES WINES)
TOURISM (CURRENTLY HELD BY ED PEABODY OF HOUR DETROIT/MICHIGAN WINE COUNTRY)
EXECUTIVE POSITIONS AVAILABLE
VICE PRESIDENT
TREASURER (UP FOR RE-ELECTION; HELD BY LEE LUTES)
COMMITTEE CHAIR POSITIONS
MEMBERSHIP
COLD CLIMATE COMMITTEE Please reach out to us HERE if you are interested in running for or nominating another for any of the open postitions above.
A Northern Wine Odyssey Podcast featuring the Judgement of Michigan
Join Judgement of Michigan Judge, Paul Brady as he is joined by wine writer Carrie Dykes – who has also judged wine competitions all over the world – to discuss wine competitions, their historical significance, how they have evolved (or not), and what the future of wine competitions might look like. And also how the concept of the Judgement of Michigan might be the future of wine competitions.
Please help us grow the Robbie Oxley Superhero Fund in Keith’s memory by donating to Venmo, @SuperHeroRobbieOxley or visiting https://venmo.com/u/SuperHeroRobbieOxley
The family is requesting contributions to the Superhero Fund in lieu of flowers. Please reach out with any questions.
The Michigan Wine Collaborative’s Inclusion & Expansion Committee is working to provide representation and advocacy for historically excluded people in the Michigan wine industry in order to increase inclusion and expansion in our industry. As such, we are working to create and maintain a sustainable recruitment pipeline to the Michigan wine industry. To strengthen the knowledge and experience of these Michigan wine industry candidates, MWC will work to maintain an efficient mentorship program by utilizing members of the Collaborative.
September means fall is here and our favorite time of year – harvest – is upon us. We can hardly wait to see what the 2021 vintage has in store!
Summer was crazy busy across the state with folks getting out and back to more or less normal. Tasting rooms have been busy and the rise of Social Districts has ignited wine sales by the glass in those areas where it applies. The concerns by some municipalities that wine to go meant there would be excess drinking leading to problems were overblown. It seems that most if not all of the people visiting wine country are enjoying wine in moderation. We applaud them!
While COVID is still disrupting life in parts of the US and some groups, business is getting back to usual in restaurants, bars and wine tasting rooms. We still urge caution in indoor settings with large groups of people to slow the spread of new COVID variants. We hope that by this time next year the pandemic will no longer be headline news,
Feedback for the Judgement of Michigan has been very positive. We look forward to learning from this year’s experiences to continually improve the event for the promotion of Michigan wines and wineries. The new JOM committee will form soon and is looking for motivated individuals who would like to be part of next year’s event.
2022 will be here before we know it along with the MWC annual meeting in January. There are several board positions available. There will also be a change in the Executive Committee: my term as President will end and Vice President Gina Shay will begin her role as President. That will leave a vacancy in the Vice Presidency that we need to fill! The VP will act in that role for two years before becoming President. If you are interested in being in a leadership position with the MWC please consider running for the VP spot. Contact any of the Executive Committee members if would like to discuss or add your name to the ballot.
The vineyards look great! Hot weather in August has moved fruit maturity ahead and cooler weather in the forecast is just what is needed to create a vintage for the ages. Best wishes for a successful harvest!
Happy Harvest!
Michigan Wine in the News
Check out notable mentions in the media featuring Michigan Wine Collaborative members and promoting the Michigan Wine Industry
