June 2019 Newsletter

Project GREEEN Collaboration

MWC is honored to be teaming up with a strong group of collaborators to enhance and support education and hands on learning to the Michigan viticulture industry. The Michigan Wine Collaborative Pipeline will work towards the expansion of education and employment training specific to the industry, developing workforce talent to fill positions critical to the growth and sustainability of the grape and wine industry. The two main objectives of this project is first to create and develop a new pre-apprenticeship pathway for viticulture using the 4-H Club Model aimed at grades 8-12 and pilot in SE Michigan at two locations (Year 1 focus); expand statewide to five additional locations (Year 2 focus). Secondly we will work to gain USDOL approval for a new federally recognized occupation in the wine and grape industry: Production Technician (Year 1 focus) and facilitate the expansion of this occupation statewide (Year 2 focus). Contributors on this project include:

• Tom Smith – project PI will coordinate with all project collaborators and provide the primary connection to the MWC and specific employers.

• MWC – facilitate dissemination, communication and collaboration related to program development.

• Laurie Rivetto – MSUE CYI educator, will participate in development of educational materials (especially related to jobs, employment opportunities and entrepreneurship), structuring of program and administration to students.

• Kathy Jamieson – MSUE CYI educator, will participate in development of educational materials (especially related to jobs, employment opportunities and entrepreneurship), structuring of program and administration to students.

• Dixie Sandborn, MSUE 4-H Specialist, will participate in development of educational materials, structuring of program and administration to students.

• Paolo Sabbatini, Assistant Professor, Horticulture, will review curriculum that isdeveloped for the 4-H program (per e-mail response to Sandborn’s request).

• Pingree Farms (https://pingreefarms.org/ ) is a confirmed site and Wolcott Farms

• Youngblood Vineyards will participate by providing facilities to explore careers and hands-on activities, training of 4-H students and volunteers, and will provide the primary training location and expertise for a student intern in years 1 & 2 from the MSU IAT program at Wayne County Community College District. Two additional student interns from Northwestern Michigan College and Southwestern Michigan College, respectively, will be added in Year 2 and trained at local vineyards.

To learn more about this projectContact Us!

New Issue ofMichigan Uncorked!

Make sure to catch the summer issue of Michigan UncorkedHERE!

Richard Smart Takes Michigan

We are thrilled to be welcoming Dr. Richard Smart to Southwest Michigan. So be sure to join us June 13th at SWMREC for a day of great speakers, amazing vendors, world-class food and all of your favorite Michigan wines. $75 Preregistration and $90 at the door! Lunch, Dinner and Wine Tasting are all included!

https://2019viticulturefielddays.simpletix.com

MWC Welcomes New Winery, Tabone, to the Michigan Wine Family!

Tabone Vineyardsis a Michigan estate winery located on Old Mission Peninsula that produces and bottles wines grown from its 30 acre site, which includes Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, as well as apples, peaches and cherries. Overall, its focus is on bright, dry, fruit-forward wines, but there are options for everybody. Visitors can expect a fun, welcoming atmosphere and team in addition to beautiful scenery.

Tabone Vineyards celebrated its grand opening event in April 2019 and is the newest member of the Old Mission Peninsula Wine Trail. You may visit the tasting room located at 14916 Peninsula Drive, Traverse City, MI 49686.

Tabone Vineyards received a gold medal for its 2014 Estate Riesling, a dry, whole cluster pressed Riesling with notes of nectarine and pear. This wine was Tabone’s first ever commercial production, but with a limited production of only 74 cases. Being an estate winery, 100% of the grapes were sourced from Tabone’s vineyards.

Owner Mario A. Tabone, 34, expressed his thanks to the INDY International Wine Competition and Purdue University Department of Food Science, saying “I am very pleased and humbled to receive this kind of recognition from such a great organization, especially with this being our first ever competition.”

Press release – Tabone Vineyards Indy International Awards 2019 5-28-2019_ (1).pdf

Northville Food & Wine Festival Seeking Partners and Attendees

Revamped Restaurant Motivation Cards

These iconic Michigan Grape & Wine Council Restaurant cards have recently been given a make over. We ask that these cards be left behind at your favorite restaurants to encourage more Michigan wine on wine lists across our state and beyond. We are also hoping to grow our restaurant members so we can collaborate more with the on premise industry. If you would like to be sent some of the cards E-mail Us or visit our online store. 

For more news and information, please visit us at www.michiganwinecollaborative.com. If you haven’t already please like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram @michiganwinecollaborative, and on Twitter @MIWineCollab. We look forward to seeing you online! 

Cheers,  

Dave Miller, President