May 2026 Newsletter
Celebrate the official MI Wine Month Proclamation, Last chance to sign up for Taste MI Invades the Eastern Market or secure sponsorships, Stock up on co-branded Taste MI merch for summer tasting room sales, Welcome Greenstone as MWC’s newest sponsor, Attend Dirt to Glass, and more! |
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Michigan Proclaims May MI Wine Month!!
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| The Michigan Wine Collaborative (MWC) proudly announced earlier this month that Governor Gretchen Whitmer has officially proclaimed May 2026 as Michigan Wine Month, recognizing the state’s thriving wine industry as a key contributor to Michigan’s economy, tourism, and agricultural heritage. Michigan’s wine industry generates over $900 million in economic impact, supports thousands of jobs, and attracts more than a million visitors annually to over 250 wineries and tasting rooms across the state.
“The Michigan grape and wine industry continues to play a vital role in shaping our state’s identity as a world class agricultural and tourism destination,” said Emily Dockery, Executive Director of the Michigan Wine Collaborative. “This proclamation not only solidifies the accomplishments of Michigan wine but it celebrates the community that has cultivated this amazing industry. This annual proclamation continues to reinforce the importance of the legacy of Michigan wine history and the excitement around the journey ahead.”
The proclamation also acknowledges Michigan’s leadership in cultivating diversity within the industry, including initiatives like the Michigan Wine Collaborative’s DREAM program, which expands education and career pathways for underrepresented communities.
With more than 45 grape varieties grown across over 4,000 acres, Michigan winemakers are producing an increasingly diverse and high-quality portfolio—from classic cool-climate varietals to sparkling wines and innovative styles.
Throughout May, wineries, restaurants, and retailers across the state will celebrate Michigan Wine Month with tastings, events, and promotions designed to connect consumers with local wine experiences.
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. |
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Be a Part of Taste MI Invades the Eastern Market!
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Taste Michigan is returning to one of Detroit’s most iconic destinations, the Eastern Market.
On Father’s Day weekend, the Michigan Wine Collaborative and Taste Michigan will once again bring Taste Michigan Invades Eastern Market to the heart of Detroit alongside partners Cool Ass Detroit Stuff and Canfield Consortium—pairing Michigan wine with one of the America’s oldest and most vibrant public markets and drawing thousands of engaged visitors for an afternoon of tasting, discovery, and connection.
This high-energy event offers Michigan wineries the opportunity to showcase their wines to a large and diverse audience, connect directly with consumers and the trade, and be part of a celebration highlighting the strength and diversity of Michigan’s wine industry.
🍷 MWC member wineries are invited to participate.
Participation space will be limited (only 2 spaces left!), wineries are encouraged to register ASAP.
CONTACT US with any questions.
We look forward to bringing Michigan wine back to Eastern Market and celebrating Father’s Day weekend with the Motor City!
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Taste Michigan Invades Eastern Market is a premier consumer-facing wine experience hosted at Eastern Market, one of the Midwest’s most iconic public markets. Taking place on Father’s Day weekend, the event brings together 15+ Michigan wineries, local vendors, and a highly engaged audience of consumers, media, and industry professionals.
Presented by the Michigan Wine Collaborative/Taste Michigan in partnership with Canfield Consortium and Cool Ass Detroit Stuff, this activation is part of the broader Taste Michigan campaign—designed to elevate Michigan wine through strategic, high-visibility experiences.
Why Sponsor
- Reach a High-Value Audience
- Engage directly with urban consumers, wine enthusiasts, and Father’s Day audiences in a dynamic, high-traffic environment.
Align with Michigan Wine + Local Culture
- Position your brand alongside a growing, quality-driven wine industry and a movement centered on local pride, agriculture, and tourism.
- Multi-Channel Visibility
Sponsors benefit from exposure across:
- Event signage and on-site activations
- Digital promotion (email, social, partner platforms)
- Media and press outreach
- Post-event recap and content
- Experiential Engagement
This is more than visibility—it’s face-to-face interaction with attendees through sampling, storytelling, and brand activation.
Have Questions? REACH OUT TO US!
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2026 Taste MI Co-Branded Merch Store is OPEN!!!
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We are excited to officially launch the new Taste Michigan Wholesale Merchandise Store — a collaborative branding initiative designed to help wineries, tasting rooms, and retail partners promote both their own brands and the growing Taste Michigan movement.
Through this program, participating businesses can order custom co-branded merchandise featuring:
• Your winery or business logo on the front
• Taste Michigan branding on the back
• A variety of apparel and merchandise options perfect for staff, club members, gift shops, events, and loyal customers
This initiative serves multiple purposes:
• Strengthening statewide recognition of Michigan wine
• Creating a more unified consumer-facing identity for the industry
• Offering wineries and partners professional branded merchandise with minimal setup
• Supporting future marketing and promotional efforts of the Michigan Wine Collaborative and Taste Michigan programs
Every order placed through the store helps fund ongoing initiatives focused on:
• Michigan wine promotion
• Consumer outreach
• Trade education
• Marketing campaigns
• Collaborative industry growth efforts
We encourage wineries and retail partners to explore the store and consider adding co-branded merchandise to your tasting room, wine club offerings, events, and staff apparel.
Visit the store here:
https://www.storessimple.com/alfielogogear/groupproducts.php?prodgroup_id=28185&prodgroupbypass=true
Questions or interested in discussing custom opportunities?
Please reach out — we would love to collaborate with you.
Thank you for helping grow the Taste Michigan brand and support the future of Michigan wine.
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The MWC Family Grows and Welcomes GreenStone Farm Credit Services
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| GreenStone Farm Credit Services has been serving the rural communities of Michigan and northeast Wisconsin for over 100 years. As one of America’s largest rural lenders, GreenStone provides tailored lending solutions and financial services for farmers, agribusinesses, home buyers, and outdoor enthusiasts. With more than $16 billion in assets, GreenStone serves over 29,000 members throughout Michigan and northeast Wisconsin by providing secure capital, a cooperative organizational structure, and the rural expertise needed to continue strengthening our communities. More information on GreenStone can be found at www.greenstonefcs.com.
Contact TODAY for more information: Kate.Thiel@greenstonefcs.com |
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New Project Will Focus on Building Biodiversity Back into Michigan Vineyards
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| Michigan vineyard managers will be working with Michigan State University staff over the coming years to explore connections between vegetation diversity, beneficials, and pests. This project was inspired by discussions in the Sustainability Committee of MWC, during field tours at Dirt To Glass, and in conversations with growers at the Viticulture Day. It will be led by members of the MSU Grape Team, working with growers in SW and NW Michigan. In April, members of the project team visited farms to find sites that could fit the criteria (photo). Once site selection is complete, the sampling will start this June.
One aspect of the project is to compare vineyards with a range of existing vegetation management approaches inside and outside vineyards. The project will also evaluate some specific cover crop treatments established to improve soil quality, vine nutrition, or beneficial insects. These aspects will be measured across the sites, along with the levels of pest populations. A second objective is to compare the efficacy and costs of early-season leaf removal and/or spray treatments for reducing sour rot. MSU Entomology graduate student Rekha Bhandari has recently studied the natural enemies of vinegar flies in Michigan vineyards, finding a range of tiny predators that attack these vexing flies. This project will also build on that study, to study treatments that can reduce sour rot while allowing the predators to survive.
The project team will also work with the cooperating growers to develop a guide to resilient viticulture, as part of their extension program. Regional workshops organized by Mike Reinke and Esmaeil Nasrollahiazar will feature the results from this project as it develops. The final component of the work is to record the butterflies visiting flowering vegetation in and around vineyards, with the aim of developing a Habitat Highway program that can be highlighted in tasting rooms.
Funding for the project was granted by the USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research & Extension program, through their NorthCentral office. As the project develops, expect annual updates through this publication and other news sources. If you have any questions, please contact project director Rufus Isaacs at isaacsr@msu.edu |
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Lock In Your MWC Sponsorship TODAY!!
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The Michigan Wine Collaborative is now welcoming sponsors and strategic partners for our 2026 programs and events. This is an opportunity to align your brand with the growth, innovation, and community behind Michigan’s thriving wine industry.
Through signature initiatives like the Taste Michigan Governor’s Cup, Taste Michigan Invasions, industry education programs, and statewide promotional campaigns, our partners gain meaningful visibility among wineries, growers, tourism leaders, and passionate consumers across Michigan and beyond.
Our sponsorship platform is designed to be flexible and collaborative, allowing partners to support the programs and initiatives in addition to crafting promotional programming that best align with their goals while helping advance the mission of Michigan wine’s only statewide wine non-profit.
By partnering with the Michigan Wine Collaborative, your organization will be supporting industry promotion, sustainability initiatives, workforce development, and the continued elevation of Michigan wine.
📩 Interested in partnering with us in 2026?
Explore sponsorship opportunities HERE or Contact Us to start the conversation.
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Taste Best of Michigan Wine Pilot Program- Developing a Training Program and Resources for the Trade
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As the Michigan wine industry continues to grow, so does the opportunity to expand how and where it shows up across the state.
The Michigan Wine Collaborative and Taste Michigan is currently developing the Taste Best of Michigan Wine Trade Training Initiative—a new program designed to support distributors, retailers, restaurants, and hospitality teams with the tools, knowledge, and strategies needed to increase placements, sales, and confidence in Michigan wine.
This pilot initiative will focus on building stronger connections across the supply chain while equipping the trade to better understand, position, and champion wines made from Michigan grown grapes.
As part of this effort, we are launching brief surveys for both trade partners and members of the Michigan wine industry to help shape the program’s direction, content, and delivery.
This initiative is being built with input from across the industry, and we encourage you to participate and share your perspective.
We’ll be sharing more details soon, along with opportunities to get involved as the program takes shape.
If you have any questions or would like to get involved REACH OUT to us any time!
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| SAVE THE DATE: Just the Desserts Parti at Laurentide Winery |
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Read the Newest Edition of Michigan Wine Country Magazine!
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| 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! |
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Promote Your Events with Vintage Michigan
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| 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 FILL OUT THIS FORM 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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MWC 2026 Board Meeting Invitation
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| Michigan Wine Collaborative is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: MWC Board Meeting
Time: June 2, 2026 10:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Every month on the First Tuesday
Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Monthly: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/tZAtf-6vrzotHNxf6WWTXMvEfRfCOtdyPy1c/ics?icsToken=DEOStCvBoMOFEEeMywAALAAAAM91pDrdN8by5N-z7q7VXO3Xm6MgOlJAwVBDllVYH8sIRI-w0SrbLKk_fP_E6TSq6LzHicKwK4M3RZcN1TAwMDAwMQ&meetingMasterEventId=2DE_bbJvRz-J2hWTQI-UDQ
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84087711768
Meeting ID: 840 8771 1768 |
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The Michigan Wine Collaborative appreciates support from the following Sponsors and Supplier/Vendor Members:
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| 2026 MWC Sponsors & Donors |
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Are you interested in promotional opportunities for your business? Check out our partnership opportunities HERE!
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