July 2026 Newsletter

Join us for industry gatherings for our July media trip, Participate in Eastern Market After Dark, Stock up on co-branded Taste MI merch for summer tasting room sales, Welcome Prestige Glassware as MWC’s newest sponsor, Attend Dirt to Glass, and more!

July Media Trip Industry Gatherings- RSVP REQUIRED

Michigan Wine Collaborative is excited to welcome the following writers to Michigan wine country this upcoming week:

Anna Lee Iijima (Chicago Tribune contributor) (Anna also writes for Decanter, Full Pour Magazine, and Bon Appetit, among others. Additionally, she spent 13 years as the contributing editor at Wine Enthusiast covering Germany, the Rhone, and Burgundy)
Jordan Mackay (author of The Sommelier’s Atlas of Taste, currently developing the American edition with a proposed MI chapter)

We will be touring around Northwest and Southwest Michigan from July 19th to July 23rd for a whirlwind introduction to Michigan wine for the two writers. Because of the condensed time frame that they will be in our area, we unfortunately will be unable to take them to all of our member wineries. In order to provide an opportunity to the entire membership to share bottles, stories, and an evening with the writers we are inviting the membership to two industry events in Leelanau Peninsula AVA and Lake Michigan Shore AVA.

On July 20th we will host a casual BBQ Bottle Share/Potluck event at the iconic North Farm located in Suttons Bay. On July 23rd we will host our Southwest installation at the Dablon Vineyards guest house featuring a Pizza Party Bottle Share to bid farewell to our esteemed guests.

We are warmly inviting all of the MWC membership to join us at either event. Please make sure to RSVP on Wild Apricot (You will need to sign into your profile…if you have trouble logging in contact us) by Monday morning for the BBQ and Wednesday morning for the Pizza Party so we can properly prepare for each crowd.

Click Here to RSVP!

Participate and Pour at Eastern Market After Dark in Shed 2

Join us on Thursday September 17, 2026 from 4:30pm-10pm at Detroit’s iconic Eastern Market Shed 2 and elevate your brand among the metro Detroit market.

This will be a condensed version of our successful Taste Michigan Invades the Eastern Market event that took place in June. We will only have room for 5-7 wineries to pour.

Attendance for this end of the season event for Eastern Market is projected to be between 30,000-50,000 attendees amongst the entire market.

Cost for booth space is $200. Tables are included with booth cost. Set up time is from Noon-4pm.

Commitments will be required by August 1st.

Click Here to Participate!

Michigan Wines Headed to the American Wine Society National Conference

The Michigan Wine Collaborative is excited to share that a Michigan wine education seminar has been officially accepted for the American Wine Society National Conference, taking place this October in Jacksonville, Florida. This is a fantastic opportunity to introduce approximately 100 wine enthusiasts and industry professionals from across the United States and abroad to the diversity and quality of Michigan wines.

To support this tasting, we are seeking winery donations of Cabernet Franc and Riesling that showcase Michigan’s unique growing regions. We are looking for:

Cabernet Franc from Northern Michigan
Cabernet Franc from Southwest Michigan
Cabernet Franc from any Michigan AVA
Dry or semi-dry Riesling from Northern Michigan
Dry or semi-dry Riesling from Southwest Michigan
Dry or semi-dry Riesling from any Michigan AVA

We are requesting five bottles of each selected wine (30 bottles total across six wines).

This seminar will provide attendees with a firsthand look at the quality, regional diversity, and distinct character of Michigan wine. If your winery is interested in having a wine considered for this national showcase, please contact us. Wines can be shipped to Ann Arbor or arrangements can be made for local pickup.

Please have your commitments in by August 10th!

Thank you for helping us continue to elevate Michigan wine on the national stage!

Click to Include Your Wines in the Line Up!

2026 Taste MI Co-Branded Merch Store is OPEN!!!

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.

Click Here to Browse the Store and Order Merch!

The MWC Family Grows and Welcomes Prestige Merchandising

At Prestige Merchandising, we help wineries turn their brand into a memorable experience. With more than 25 years of industry experience, we specialize in high-quality custom merchandise designed to showcase your winery’s identity and leave a lasting impression on your customers.

We offer a full range of custom-branded products for wineries, including premium apparel, embroidered clothing, custom wine glasses, laser-engraved gifts, tasting room merchandise, event giveaways, and promotional products of every kind. Whether you are looking to elevate your tasting, create memorable wine club gifts, outfit your staff, or promote a special event, our team can help bring your vision to life.

From small boutique wineries to large-scale vineyards, we pride ourselves on delivering exceptional quality, attention to detail, and personalized service. Our goal is simple: provide wineries with unique, professional merchandise that strengthens their brand and enhances the customer experience.

At Prestige Merchandising, we combine creativity, craftsmanship, and decades of expertise to help your winery stand out.

Prestige Merchandising is offering an EXCLUSIVE 10% off discount to MWC members on their first order!! Mention this deal to Jaclyn at the email below to take advantage of this deal.

Contact TODAY for orders and more information: jaclyn@prestigeglassware.com

Click Here to Learn More About Prestige Merchandising!

Attend the 2026 Dirt to Glass Conference

Click Here to Register!

Lock In Your MWC Sponsorship TODAY!!

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.

Explore Sponsorship Packages Here!

Lock In Your Sponsorship Here!

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 FILL OUT THIS FORM or contact Emily with event information, links, graphics, and invitations.

Share Your Events for the Vintage Michigan Calendar Here!