May 2025 Newsletter

Celebrate Michigan Wine Month, Get involved with The DREAM Tasting Room Network, RSVP to attend Taste MI Invades the Eastern Market, and more!

It’s Officially Michigan Wine Month!

It’s here! 2025 Michigan Wine Month is well on its way along with the official proclamation from the Governor’s office. Michigan Wine Month celebrates and highlights our incredible and progressive industry. As the buds break and the blossoms bloom, May is the official start to the tasting room season. In our spaces, we aim to lift Michigan wine’s prestige by offering tailored wine events throughout Michigan, offering tasting room specials at each location, and offering education on the impact that the Michigan wine industry has on Michigan’s economy.

Click Here to Read the Official Press Release!

Taste MI Invades MI Wine Month!

We’ve been hard at work matching up Michigan wineries from across the state with some of the most elite Metro Detroit and Grand Rapids restaurants and retailers. We’ve also been promoting all kinds of events across the state on the Taste Michigan and Vintage Michigan websites. Take a look at the current line up below and keep checking back for exciting additions and updates! It’s time to Taste Michigan this MI Wine Month!
Want to be a part of Taste Michigan Invades programming? Join MWC Here or Contact Us!

Click Here to Submit Your Events for Promotion!

RSVP to Taste Michigan Invades the Eastern Market

Taste Michigan Invades the Eastern Market June 22nd in Shed 5. Join us for this exciting chance to try a variety of wines from 15 wineries across the state. This inaugural event brings two non profit organizations together, Michigan Wine Collaborative and Canfield Consortium, along with Cool Ass Detroit Stuff and 15 Michigan wineries. Swing by Shed 5 at the iconic Eastern Market to meet the makers, growers, movers, and shakers of the Michigan wine industry…and of course raise a glass (or a few!) to Michigan wine!

We are also inviting members of the trade to participate. Wine buyers, sommeliers, and media representatives are welcome to attend to taste, make buying decisions, and cover this event.

Are you a Detroit restaurant, retailer, or media professional? Email us to attend Taste MI Invades the Eastern Market and/or to get involved in the June installment of Taste MI Invades the D!

Sponsor Taste Michigan Invades the Eastern Market

Support Michigan’s only statewide non profit representing the needs and interests of the local wine industry and promote your business though a sponsorship package that fits your needs best. There are three comprehensive packages to choose from but each have limited availability so lock in your sponsorship ASAP!

Click Here to Review Sponsorship Opportunities & Lock Yours In!

SAM Tool: A Digital Assistant for Vineyard Task Planning and Communication

In addition to helping vineyard managers plan tasks, manage both spray and non-spray activities, save time, and maintain accurate records, SAM Tool also sends task reminders and supports clear communication with field crews and tasting room staff.

If you’re interested in using SAM Tool this growing season, please visit sustainableag.msu.edu or contact Karen Chou at [email protected] to schedule a Zoom meeting before May 30, 2025. She’ll personally help you get started.

MWC’s The DREAM 2.0 Partnering with MI Tasting Rooms

For the launch of The DREAM 2.0 the Michigan Wine Collaborative will be partnering with MWC member tasting rooms across the state to sell the wine. This wine benefits the MWC Inclusion & Expansion Educational Fund by committing $1 of the profits from each bottle sold to provide educational awards to BIPOC wine professionals and aspiring wine professionals looking to advance their careers in Michigan wine from the areas of production to hospitality. The network of tasting rooms selling the wines will be included in an interactive map highlighting their support as well as promoting along side marketing efforts connecting to the MWC Inclusion & Expansion Committee and Educational Fund. We also ask our partners to consider matching the $1 profit donation via individual tasting room sales of the wine.

The DREAM 2.0 is a sparkling Riesling produced by St. Julian winery. The wine will be available for procurement via BOND-TO-BOND sales at $118/case. There will be convenient procurement spots where the wine can be picked up, they include St. Julian tasting rooms in the southern portion of the state and Chateau Chantal in Northern Michigan.

Please keep in mind the following per the MLCC:

Examples of donations deemed acceptable: A manufacturer manufactures a product with the express intent to donate all or a portion of the net profits from that product to an unlicensed non-profit entity.
Any promotion or advertising of the $1 per bottle should indicate that it is from the profits of the sale of the product.
The wine is sold as shiners to the participating wineries and they sell it only in their own tasting rooms and do not self-distribute it to retailers or sell it to a different wholesaler to distribute to retailers

If you are interested in supporting the wine in your tasting room please fill out the form below to participate. Once we begin building this network of tasting rooms each participating location will receive a packet with important information.

Click Here to Become a Part of The DREAM Network!

Dune Bird Winery Supports Piping Plover Conservation

Dune Bird Winery is proud to announce a new collaboration with Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes (FOSB), a 501C3 nonprofit, partnered with the National Park Service, dedicated to protecting resources and heightening visitor experiences at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. This collaboration is marked by the release of a special, limited-release wine: Pink Plover – a sweet rosé crafted to raise awareness and funds for the endangered Piping Plover and other resource protection efforts along Lake Michigan’s shorelines.

“We’re incredibly excited to collaborate with Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes to raise both awareness and funds for the Piping Plover,” said Bekah Bell, Brand Culture and Flight Club manager at Dune Bird Winery. “This partnership allows us to bring together our love for wine and our commitment to environmental conservation—not only in our vineyards and winemaking but also in our communities and along our shorelines.”

The Piping Plover is a small, endangered shorebird that breeds along the shores of the Great Lakes from April to August each year. Almost half of the Great Lakes population nests within the Lakeshore. Dune Bird’s Pink Plover represents a community commitment to protect one of Michigan’s most beloved and vulnerable species. A portion of every bottle sold will go toward supporting conservation efforts for the Piping Plover and other Friends of Sleeping Bear resource protection programs.

Learn More Here!

Bel Lago’s 2017 Pinot Noir Stuns Judges in Oregon Wine Press Blind Tasting

“In a stunning upset that’s creating a buzz across the wine world, Bel Lago Winery’s 2017 Pinot Noir has claimed top honors in a blind tasting conducted by Oregon Wine Press—outscoring some of the most acclaimed wines from Oregon’s prestigious Willamette Valley.”

BIG Congratulations to Bel Lago. Check out the full press release below.

If Vines Could Talk MI Wine Month Line Up

May is Michigan Wine Month, and *If Vines Could Talk* is celebrating with a lineup of must-listen episodes! Among the mix:

May 1: Episode 94: Brian Lillie of Brian Lillie and Company
May 8: Episode 95: The Many Voices of Michigan Wine
May 15: Episode 96: Sarah Spoonholtz – Director, SW Michigan Regional Chamber
May 22: Episode 97: Filkins Vineyards – Winery Immersion
May 29: Episode 98: Michigan Food and Wine Pairings

Tune in to *If Vines Could Talk*, available on all popular podcast platforms, as we toast to Michigan Wine Month!

Click Here to Listen!

Shop Michigan Wine Gear!

Check out the official Michigan Wine Gear Store and stock up on all kinds of branded swag featuring Taste Michigan, Michigan Wine Collaborative, Cool is Hot, and Vintage Michigan. From hoodies to hats to joggers and more. We regularly update the shop with new designs and items. Check in often!

Click Here to Shop!

Promote Your Events with Vintage Michigan

We want to help promote your vineyard and winery events!! MWC members who are Vintage Michigan participants are welcomed to submit events at any time for promotion in the Vintage Michigan Event Calendar. These events are shared with the over 4000 Vintage Michigan members. Please submit via the form below or contact Emily with event information, links, graphics, and invitations.

Share Your Events for the Vintage Michigan Calendar Here!