February 2024 Newsletter
Welcome MWC’s Newest Board Members, Enter your wine in the 2024 Michigan Governor’s Cup, Mark your calendars for Taste Michigan Invades the D, Exhibit your wines at Eastern Winery Exposition, Prepare for the Michigan Craft Beverage Summit, Fundraise with Modales for Agricultural Scholarships, Advertise in Michigan Wine Country, and More! |
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Meet MWC’s Newest Board Members!
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MWC is excited to announce yet another successful Annual Meeting & Election. This year we have a FULL official board and are ready to grow the Michigan grape and wine industries together.
Our new board members include:
Mike Laing of MAWBY serving as one of our NW Winery positions
Iza Babinska of Folklor Wine & Cider serving as one of our Winery OTHER REGION positions.
Dennis Devitt of Wilbur Ellis serving as our Supplier/Vendor positionAnd a very special congratulations to Andrew Backlin of Modales who was elected to our Vice President position.
We’d also like to extend our deepest thanks and appreciation to Gina Shay of CADUS AnA who recently fulfilled her term as MWC President. Gina has been dedicated as our leader giving much time, energy, and love to our organization and made many of our biggest strides possible. Relieving Gina from the Presidency is Brian Lillie of Chateau Chantal. We are thrilled to continue our momentum and create a united Michigan wine industry under Brian’s leadership.
There has been some changes occur within our committees.
- Iza Babinska will be taking over as Grants & Funding Chair. Please reach out to her if you are interested in getting involved in that committee.
- We are seeking a chair for our Research & Education Committee.
- Committee meetings will be resuming in March 2024. Please check in with Basecamp and/or reach out to Emily to get involved in committees.
We are still seeking a couple of honorary board members including:
IT Specialist
Financial Strategist
Please REACH OUT if interested or to nominate. |
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Michigan Wine Collaborative Announces the 2024 Michigan Governor’s Cup, Presented by Taste Michigan
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The Michigan Wine Collaborative (MWC) is excited to announce a partnership with the Beverage Testing Institute (BTI) for the official second annual Michigan Governor’s Cup Awards in 2024, presented by Taste Michigan. BTI will conduct a series of professional blind tastings to rate and rank a set of Michigan produced wines, meads, and ciders at the BTI Chicago testing facility. The final tasting results with all wine’s scores, medal ranks, constructive criticism, Best of Category, Governor’s Case Winners, and Governor’s Cup winners would be prepared for and provided to MWC by May 31, 2024. MWC will distribute these results.
Wineries must have entry samples submitted no later than March 3, 2024. The full details of timeline, entry requirements, competition and review package options and competition updates will be offered on the BTI Michigan Governor’s Cup landing page as well as the MWC website and also promoted via informational email blasts, social media, and reinforced by BTI communication channels.
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Buckle Up! Taste Michigan Invades the D!
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| A wine and food pairing pop up event scheduled for May 17th in Metro Detroit. Visit tastemichigan.org for updates as we continue to build partnerships in the Detroit market. Piggybacking on our partners at Uncork Me Michigan with their Michigan wine festival at Comerica Park we thought it would be in our best interest to maximize the exposure that we can that weekend in celebration of Michigan Wine Month. If they won’t come learn about our wine in our space we will take our wine to them!
Contact Brian Lillie or Emily Dockery to be included in this landmark event weekend. NOTE: Wine Festival spaces are booked. We can happily add you to the waitlist if a producer cannot fulfill their respective obligations.
Stay tuned for more updates…including an official press release and landing page at tastemichigan.org! |
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Attending Eastern Winery Expo? Show Off Your Wines at the MWC Table!
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| As a supporting sponsor of the 2024 Eastern Winery Exposition, we have the opportunity to represent our association and region with a tasting table at the EWE Welcome Wine Reception on Tuesday, March 12 in Syracuse, NY. There are two ways for our membership to participate:
1. Donate wine to be poured during the Welcome Wine Reception on March 12 or at the 12th Annual EWE Industry Celebration Dinner on March 13.
2. Volunteer to pour wines at the Welcome Wine Reception on March 12. It’s a lively & fun event and a great opportunity to promote the products coming out of our region. Show management provides the set-up, you provide your time and passion for wine.
There are a limited number of tables available to sponsoring associations so please let us know right away if you’d like to participate. Any volunteers who have not yet registered for EWE will be given a complimentary Exhibits Only and Welcome Wine Reception pass to enjoy the reception before or after their shift and to access the trade show March 13-14, with a free lunch in the exhibit hall March 14. |
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Register for the 2024 Michigan Craft Beverage Summit
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| Join the Michigan Craft Beverage Council (MCBC) and Pure Michigan Business Connect (PMBC) for the first-ever Michigan Craft Beverage Summit. The summit aims to educate and connect growers, producers and other industry suppliers and to create collaborative partnerships and advance an ever-growing state craft beverage industry.
Attendees will:
- Interact with craft beverage producers around the state, as well as farmers and equipment suppliers
- Receive education around navigating local supply chains and sourcing Michigan-grown agriculture
- Learn about state resources available to industry businesses (grants, technical assistance, etc.)
- Engage in breakout sessions related to Michigan-grown ingredients, resources, and topics that relate to all craft beverage sectors
- Participate in a supplier exhibition of products/services to craft beverage growers & producers
- Connect in one-on-one buyer-supplier meetings
*Not all attendees will be able to exhibit or participate in one-on-one meetings
Who should attend?
- Decision makers at Michigan breweries, wineries, cideries, and distilleries
- Michigan growers of grain and specialty crops used in the craft beverage production process
- Michigan suppliers currently servicing the craft beverage industry or those looking to enter the industry for new market opportunities (i.e. grain handlers, grain cleaners, maltsters, relevant professional service providers, etc.)
- Grocers/retailers/other purchasers looking for Michigan craft beverage products
- Local, regional and state small business service providers
- Anyone interested in getting engaged in the Michigan craft beverage industry
Registration is required and an early bird discount is available through January 19. General attendee and exhibitor pricing details are available here. |
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Modales Partnering with Rotary to Host a Fundraiser for Agricultural Scholarships
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| Modales is partnering with Rotary to host a fundraiser for agricultural scholarships in under-served communities in the area. These scholarships would help pay for things like the Wine Technology program at Lake Michigan College or trade schools to learn agricultural trades.
Presented by Fennville Pullman Lakeshore Rotary Club the evening of Saturday, March 2nd will hear the Mardi Gras music of the Great Lakes Band in live performance echoing through the vineyard during “The Party at the Winery” at Fennville’s Modales Winery. This event will benefit area youth agricultural trade scholarship and youth development. Sponsored by local businesses the evening will include live music, food and wine pairings, silent-auction packages and prizes for the best Mardi Gras-themed costumes. Tickets are limited to 150 at $55 each and are available through Eventbrite. |
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Advertise in 2024 Michigan Wine Country
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| Looking to lure tourists to your business? Michigan Wine Country magazine is the ideal environment for your advertising message. Michigan Wine Country is by, for, and about Michigan wineries — it is exclusively your publication. In fact, Michigan Wine Country will not accept advertising from any other wine regions, and Michigan wineries receive a 25% discount on advertising. The deadline to reserve advertising space in the 2024 edition of Michigan Wine Country magazine is Feb. 27. Support your industry magazine! For more information, contact Ed Peabody at [email protected]. |
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Ink by Hudson Wine & Book Bar at the GR Airport is Officially POURING MI WINE!!!
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| MWC is excited to announce that the Michigan Wine Collaborative Wine Bar at the Ink by Hudson location at the Gerald R. Ford Airport is OFFICIALLY OPEN!! This exciting project has been in the works since 2021. We are honored to have our logo above the self-serve wine bar featuring our member wineries. Check out the images above to get a glimpse into the vibe at the wine bar. Stay tuned for a joint press release from MWC and Hudson Group!
MWC is currently recruiting wineries interested in having their wine at the new Ink by Hudson Wine Bar & Bookshop located just past security at the Gerald R. Ford Airport in Grand Rapids. Requirements for participation include:
- Active MWC Membership
- Ability to keg wines AND available inventory
- Distributor relationship is preferred (Simplifies ordering process to the airport)
- Red wines are currently in high demand for the upcoming wine list
The taps are currently full but we will be working with Hudson to have a steady rotation of MWC member wineries. We encourage you to submit your information ASAP so we can add you to the rotation que. Please reach out to EMILY HERE as soon as possible to enroll in this exciting wine program at one of the state’s busiest travel hubs!
*If you have wines on tap already please forward Emily POS information to submit to the store’s management. |
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MWC Invites Members to Participate in the Vinroom Pilot Program
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THIS JUST IN! Michigan Uncorked 2024 Spring Issue
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MWC 2024 BOARD MEETINGS
Every month on the First Tue, until Dec 3, 2024, 11 occurrence(s)
Mar 5, 2024 10:00 AM
Apr 2, 2024 10:00 AM
May 7, 2024 10:00 AM
Jun 4, 2024 10:00 AM
Jul 2, 2024 10:00 AM
Aug 6, 2024 10:00 AM
Sep 3, 2024 10:00 AM
Oct 1, 2024 10:00 AM
Nov 5, 2024 10:00 AM
Dec 3, 2024 10:00 AM
Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Monthly: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/tZUodumqqTMpHNEO9fJC66OMO87LDXOqQMOD/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGpqzoqGNOdsx-CRpwcGYj4c-rwtlxego14s0bjKQMFNCzbGboVHpZHP8nh
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81510278365
Meeting ID: 815 1027 8365 |
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Calling All MI Wine Events!!
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| We want to help promote your vineyard and winery events!! MWC members 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. |
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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? We love featuring our member wineries! 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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