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Michigan wine industry creates new partnerships

Michigan’s wine industry has united to better represent the sector’s interests in legislative issues as well as support research and marketing efforts.

“There’s new legislation at the state level that’s turning the Michigan Grape and Wine Council to the Michigan Craft Beverage Council which would include the brewers and distillers along with the winemakers, so we want to make sure we’re at the table.”

Michigan Wine Collaborative President Dave Miller, owner of White Pine Winery in Southwest Michigan, tells Brownfield the nonprofit was created at the end of last year and includes wineries, growers and others with a vested interest in helping the state’s nearly $790 million industry grow.  “We’ve seen tremendous growth in the number of wineries and the acreage going in the ground.  Honestly, I think we’re just at a tipping point where we’re going to see explosive growth, both acreage and wineries in the next five to ten years.”

He says there’s also a possibility of creating some type of assessment program for wine grapes growers to better assist the marketing and research needs in Michigan.

Michigan’s vineyard acreage has doubled in the last decade making it the nation’s fifth largest wine grape producer.

AUDIO: Interview with Dave Miller

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