Jan 5, 2018

Michigan’s wine industry has eight new producers of wine

The Michigan Grape & Wine Industry Council approved eight new producers of Michigan wine at their meeting on Nov. 30, 2017. This brings the total number of Michigan wineries to 138.

To be eligible for promotion by the MGWIC, a winery must use majority Michigan fruit in their total production. In 2016, Michigan wineries produced more than 2.7 million gallons of wine and helped maintain 3,050 acres of wine grape vineyards.

“The council, which meets quarterly, typically reviews the eligibility of two to four new wineries at each meeting. The fact that we had eight eligibility forms to review reinforces the continued growth of Michigan’s wine industry,” said Karel Bush, executive director of the Michigan Grape & Wine Industry Council.

Inclusion of these new wineries rides on the coattails of a recent economic impact study that determined Michigan’s wine industry to have a $5.4 billion economic impact, including $253 million in tourism spending in Michigan, $1.8 billion in wages and $854 million in annual taxes.

“Although a handful of our wine producers have been growing wine grapes here for decades, the number of wineries getting involved with this industry has skyrocketed in recent years,” said Bush. “There were only 49 producers of Michigan wine in 2007, which means the number of wineries has nearly tripled in the last 10 years.

“Michigan has a unique northern climate, which allows us to grow high-quality grapes,” Bush continued. “Consumers and critics alike embrace the crisp, old-world style of wine that our grapes produce. We don’t see signs of slowed growth anytime soon.”

New wineries approved by the MGWIC:

• Chateau Aeronautique Winery, Onsted
• Detroit Vineyards, Detroit
• Glass Creek Winery, Hastings
• Moonrise Winery, Watervliet
• Owl Wineries, Roseville
• Red Top Winery, Baroda
• Sabrosa Sangria, Shelby Township
• Spare Key Winery, Charlevoix

More information about each winery and the full economic impact report can be viewed at michiganwines.com.

About Michigan Grape & Wine Industry Council: Founded in 1985, the Michigan Grape & Wine Industry Council is housed within the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development to provide for research, education and the promotion of the Michigan wine grape and wine industry, to stimulate economic development through value-added, sustainable agriculture. More information can be found at michiganwines.com.