June 2025 Newsletter
Celebrate the 2025 Taste MI Governor’s Cup results, RSVP to attend Taste MI Invades the Eastern Market, Check out WineAmerica’s 2025 National Economic Impact Study, Browse the newest Michigan Wine Country Mag, Stay tuned for the MI Crafted launch, Read June’s Wine Law article, Cheers to our Taste MI Invades the Eastern Market sponsor, Check out the If Vines Could Talk Line Up, Learn about some MI wine events, and more! |
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2025 Taste MI Governor’s Cup Results
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| The Michigan Wine Collaborative (MWC) is excited to the 2025 Taste Michigan Governor’s Cup Competition results. This event represents Michigan’s only statewide industry driven wine competition and is an opportunity for the Michigan wine industry to unite, engage, compete, and celebrate the premium wines representative of our wine industry. Partnering with the Beverage Testing Institute (BevTest) for the official third annual Taste Michigan Governor’s Cup Awards in 2025, MWC is thrilled to announce the exciting results from the competition.
The Michigan Governor’s Cup winner for 2025 is Cherry Creek Cellars, of the River Raisin Wine Trail with their, 2023 Charamar Collection Pinot Noir. This wine ranked the highest out of 154 entries from 33 wineries submitted to the competition.
We are pleased to announce the following award categories and corresponding ‘Best of Category’ awards:
Vinifera Red: Cherry Creek Cellars 2023 Charamar Collection
Pinot Noir (Platinum Medal)
Vinifera White: Golden Muse Winery 2023 Nadar Chardonnay
(Gold Medal)
Hybrid Red: White Pine Winery NV Dune Shadow Red Blend
(Gold Medal)
Hybrid White: French Valley Vineyard 2023 Vignoles (Gold
Medal)
Fortified: St. Julian NV Solera Cream Sherry (Gold Medal)
Sparkling: MAWBY NV Grace Brut Rosé (Platinum Medal)
Rosé: Verterra Winery 2024 Rosé of Cabernet Franc (Gold
Medal)
Sweet/Dessert (R.S. ≥5%): Bel Lago 2023 Late Harvest Riesling
(Gold Medal)
Cider: Two K Farms NV Harrison Cider (Gold Medal)
Full competition results can be found on the Taste Michigan website! |
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RSVP to Taste Michigan Invades the Eastern Market
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| 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. |
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Shout Out to Our Taste MI Invades the Eastern Market Sponsor, Eagle Eye Brands!
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| In 2004, Eagle Eye Brands was established in Michigan with the mission of representing great French wines at the best possible prices. Today, that mission has grown to include wines from all regions of the world. We choose wines that adhere to three principles – authenticity, approachability, and accessibility. Our success in Michigan has allowed us to expand our operation to include a distribution wing in Illinois as well as a National Import Division that partners with distributors across the US and internationally.
We are flexible, agile, and understand that our customers need end consumers. To that end, we aim to work as partners with our customers and vintners to help attract and maintain a customer base and work in ways that are mutually beneficial for shared success.
Michigan Wine Collaborative is honored to have Eagle Eye as our official event sponsor. We are so appreciative of their support of the Michigan wine industry and are excited to have them in the Michigan Wine Collaborative family! |
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WineAmerica’s 2025 National Economic Impact Study
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| The wine industry is a major economic engine, and a large contributor to the United States economy, with wine producers, distributors, retailers, and consumers in all 50 states. WineAmerica, the National Association of American Wineries in Washington, DC, commissioned a study of the wine industry’s total impact in 2025, which was shown to be over $323 billion. A similar study in 2022 remains on the website for comparison.The study by John Dunham & Associates also has detailed data for all 50 states in the form of Infographics, Press Releases, and Data Tables.
The wine industry generates close to $8.96 billion in total economic activity in the State of Michigan, dramatically illustrating that wine is the ultimate value-added beverage. The broader economic impact flows throughout the state, generating business for firms seemingly unrelated to the wine industry. Real people, with real jobs, working in industries as varied as farming, banking, accounting, manufacturing, packaging, transportation, printing, and advertising depend on the wine industry for their livelihoods. |
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THIS JUST IN! 2025’s Michigan Wine Country Magazine
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| From harvest 2024 to terroir, from ice wine to MI wine recipes, and MORE!! The 2025 issue of Michigan Wine Country is full of updates, winery listings, maps, and other resources to help make your Michigan wine excursions the best yet and also is a great tool to raise awareness and appreciation of our amazing wine industry. Pick up a copy at your favorite tasting room, Michigan welcome centers, and more. And remember to share the digital copy on social media and beyond! |
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Be a Part of the Michigan Crafted Launch!
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| MDARD, the Michigan Craft Beverage Council, and Michigan Craft Beverage Industry as a whole is inviting all Michigan craft beverage makers and producers to join us in telling the world about Michigan’s award-winning wine, beer, spirits and ciders.Don’t miss your chance to join the big splash on social media with items that make it easy to promote your Michigan Crafted business this summer.
Looking for more ways to promote your Michigan-made craft beverages? Download materials like social posts and printable posters or visit our portal to get access to even more crafted swag. Stay tuned for the official Michigan Crafted brand launch later this month!
Now is the time to be bold, to boast about Michigan’s one-of-a-kind history and to show off your business’s unique draw. Don’t wait to promote your craft — because when craft calls, Michigan answers. |
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June 2025’s Wine Law from Howard & Howard
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| If you operate a tasting room in Michigan, onsite or offsite, understanding the State’s dram shop laws is important. These laws impose specific responsibilities and potential liabilities on establishments that serve alcohol, including winery tasting rooms.
Michigan’s dram shop law, codified in the Michigan Liquor Control Code, holds alcohol-serving establishments liable if they unlawfully provide alcohol to minors or visibly intoxicated individuals who subsequently cause injury or death to third parties. This liability extends to winery tasting rooms, which are considered licensed premises under Michigan law. |
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MWC’s The DREAM 2.0 Partnering with MI Tasting Rooms
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| 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.
CONTACT US HERE with any questions! |
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