Oct 2, 2014

Michigan’s wine grape crop will be half the size of 2013

The Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council anticipates roughly a 50 percent reduction in the size of the state’s 2014 wine grape crop compared to the record 7,600 tons reported in 2013.

Severe cold events from January through March resulted in damage to grapevines that reduced fruitfulness for many of the more cold-tender varieties used for wine production in Michigan. The extended, extreme cold during the winter of 2013-14 was the coldest in Michigan since 1993-94, according to the council.

The impact of the damage will vary widely around the state. More than 40 varieties of grapes are used for wine production in Michigan. Some varieties, like Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc, are more susceptible to damage from prolonged cold temperatures. In early October, 
growers were preparing applications for USDA federal disaster assistance programs to help mitigate some of their financial losses, according to the council.

In addition, the cool, wet summer of 2014 delayed ripening of the crop. As of Sept. 29, growing degree day data indicated that heat accumulation was behind the five-year average by about 15 percent in the state’s wine grape-growing regions, making 2014 the coolest growing season in Michigan since 2009. Pest and disease pressure also increased due to the weather, according to the council.

In 2015, consumers may face a reduced selection of styles and labels from Michigan’s 2014 vintage due to the damage to cold-tender varieties. However, wine inventories are in good shape at most wineries as a result of highly productive vintages in 2012 and 2013, according to the council.