Check out our COVID-19 Resources, Fall Inclusion & Expansion projects, the MI Craft Beverage Council’s New Marketplace, MI Wine Jobs, Michigan Wine in the News, and More!
MWC COVID-19 Resources
With us moving our guests indoors due to colder weather MWC wanted to make sure our members had access to our COVID-19 Resources. On our online hub you can find the following:
Tasting Room Posters (Mask Up, Social Distance, Clean Hands, Be Kind)
Social Media Graphics
Agritourism Reopening Recommendations
We will be updating this information periodically so please be sure to check in.
We will be asking guests and wineries to share their masked up winery selfies with us and using the #MaskedUpMIWine this Fall and Holiday season in the tasting rooms and vineyards. Print out posters for the tasting room HERE!
If you have a need or suggestion regarding COVID-19 support please reach out to us!
Inclusion & Expansion Committee Projects
The MWC Inclusion & Expansion Committee has been hard at working finishing up some 2020 projects and gearing up for 2021 initiatives. Take a quick look to see what we’ve been up to so far.
Vintage Michigan Pro-Tips for Michigan Wine Country in the Fall Social Media Campaign
Introductory Campaign for the Committee on the MWC Social Media
Coordinating MI Wine Series with the Podcast Music in the Bottle
Recruited Valuable Members to the Michigan Wine Collaborative and Expanded our Retail/Restaurant and Winery Memberships
Produced Full Scale Fundraising Campaign to Launch Winter 2020/21
Coordinating Webinar Series to Highlight Accessibility/Disability Awareness for Winery/Tasting Room Staff
MWC Inclusion & Expansion Scholarship Fund
It is this committee’s intention to raise funds for a scholarship to encourage and increase diversity in the Michigan wine industry. This fund will provide partial to full funding towards Enology/Viticulture degrees and/or wine certifications. Stay tuned to learn more about contributing!
MWC Mentorship & Apprenticeship Program
It is this committee’s intention to form a Mentorship & Apprenticeship program utilizing the MWC membership. This program with work directly with the MWC Recruitment Pipeline to serve as a database for both aspiring and/or skilled winery. vineyard, or hospitality staff and for businesses looking for staff or to train the future of the MI wine industry. If you are interested in being involved in this project please reach out to us HERE!
The Research and Winemaking webinar series that started in August 2020 is continuing until December 8th 2020 with more FREE webinars offered to the grape and wine industry members who are using mostly hybrid and climate-adapted grape varieties. The webinars are co-organized and co-hosted by Dr. Aude Watrelot, Assistant Professor of Enology at Iowa State University and Drew Horton, Enology Specialist at the University of Minnesota’s Grape Breeding & Enology Project.
MI Craft Beverage Council Marketplace
MI CBC has created a forum to connect growers and producers in the Michigan Craft Beverage industry to buy and sell. This marketplace features exclusively agricultural products grown in Michigan. However, tools and equipment listed may come from outside of the state.
Nouveau Michigan Style
We are working on building a database of Michigan produced Nouveau to promote for the holidays. If you have a Nouveau or Nouveau event you would like promoted via MWC website and social media. Please contact us HERE!
What we need…
Name of wine & description AND/OR event name & description
MI Wine is hiring! And also, there are people who want to work in the MI wine industry. MWC is working to create a database to connect the two. See below for more info!
The 2020 is in the cellar and what a vintage it has been! Growing conditions this year were spot-on for a great vintage dry with just enough rain to keep leaves active, low disease and weed pressure, modest vine growth and warm, dry conditions for much of the ripening and harvest season. At least there will be great wines to remember from 2020.
As we look forward to the months ahead the MWC is planning for a virtual Annual Meeting in January in cooperation with the Northwest Orchard and Vineyard Show. As always we will elect new board members and vote on any proposed changes to our Bylaws. Watch here and on our social media platforms for more information on the meeting as we get closer to January.
The efforts of our tasting room staff have been working so far to keep our customers safe and to slow the spread of COVID. We all need to keep doing what we have been doing and double down on our efforts to wear masks, maintain social distancing, observe and enforce capacity limits, sanitize surfaces, wash hands, and not coming to work if you don’t feel well. The coming months will be challenging but we will get through the winter safely by working together. #staysafestayopen!
We are beginning to look forward to 2021 and think about what the MWC can do to fulfill its mission to support Michigan’s wine industry. We have a fantastic group of dedicated wine industry people who are working hard to grow our industry. Consider joining a committee and helping in an area in which you’re passionate: Marketing and Promotion, Research and Education, The Michigan Wine Competition, Fundraising and Grants, Inclusion and Expansion, Sustainability, Cold Hardy Grapes… Or if you have an idea for a committee you would like to chair, bring it to the board and let’s talk!
Have a successful November and stay safe!
Michigan Wine in the News
Check out notable mentions in the media featuring Michigan Wine Collaborative members and promoting the Michigan Wine Industry
