Ready for the Harvest by lpwines
Wine takes center stage this month with Governor Granholm proclaiming April 'Michigan Wine Month'. The Governor was quoted in a recent press release regarding the continued positive growth and impact on Michigan's economy. “With eight new wineries slated to open this year, Michigan’s grape and wine industry demonstrates that our state is ripe for growth and opportunity,” said Granholm. “Michigan’s wine industry is an important component of the state’s $71.3 billion agri-food business sector and is vital to our tourism efforts.”
Having received numerous awards and adding hundreds of millions of dollars to the state's coffers each year, Michigan produced wines have become an important addition to the economy and connoisseurs alike.
Upcoming Wine Events
If you haven't done so, you owe it to yourself to get out and explore Michigan's various wine regions. Here is a sampling of upcoming events designed for both seasoned tasters and those wanting to learn more and experience first hand the excellent wines that our wineries are producing.
Michigan Wine Celebration - April 18-19 - Southeast Michigan Pioneer Wine Trail - www.pioneerwinetrail.com
Spring Sip & Savor - May 2-3 - Leelanau Peninsula Vintners - www.lpwines.com
Blossom Days - May 16-17 - Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula - www.wineriesofoldmission.com
Lake Michigan Shore Wine Festival - June 20 - Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail - www.miwinetrail.com
Michigan Wine Country Magazine
The 2009 edition of Michigan Wine Country is now available. The 48 page annual publication features news and information on Michigan’s world-class wines and wineries - including six new ones - plus maps, activities, events, information on the most recent vintage and new releases. Order your complimentary copy today.
If you can't make it out to the tasting rooms please take time to explore Michigan wine through Absolute Michigan's Michigan Wine section and the Michigan Wine & Grape Industry Council web site to learn about the excellent offerings that are produced right here in the Mitten!
Noteworthy Articles
Absolute Michigan has been working with Sharon Kegerreis and Lorri Hathaway of Michigan Vine, authors of the Michigan Notable Book - Michigan Vine: Exploring Michigan Wineries, to promote Michigan wine. The first series of articles provided to us focuses on each of Michigan's five wine trails and their most recent series titled Michigan Uncorked takes a closer look at the individual wineries that make up the 5 wine trails.
Chris Kassel of Detroit's examiner.com takes a look at Michigan Wine Month in relation to Michigan's current economic woes in - April is Michigan Wine Month: Woo hoo!
For work-challenged, slowly imploding Michigan, every month is whine month. But only one gets to be wine month: April.
That’s because Governor Jennifer M. (not for mole) Granholm has magnanimously declared April ‘Michigan Wine Month’ in a gesture she repeats with equal magnanimity every April.
This year, however, it can be viewed as a nod to one of the few industries in Michigan that is actually doing well. Sales of Michigan wine increased by 5% in 2008, possibly because everyone is home drinking since nobody is able to find a bank willing to loan them money to buy a car to drive to a job if they had one, which they don’t.
In this March 2008 article, Agriculturally Speaking... Celebrating Michigan Wines, Michigan Department of Agriculture director Don Koivisto writes:
If you haven’t visited one of Michigan’s 60 wineries and tasting rooms, spring is the perfect time of year to witness the transformation occurring in this growing industry. Tasting rooms are less busy and staff are delighted to have the opportunity to provide extra attention to visitors.
For example, in 2007, Michigan’s wineries won 800 medals in both national and international wine competitions. Additionally, it’s estimated that nearly 1 million tourists will visit Michigan wineries this year, generating an estimated $8.6 million in wine-related tourism expenditures. It’s this combination of excellence and economics that make Michigan’s grape and wine industry a standout.
Must See YouTube - "SENATOR MICHELLE MCMANUS' "IN TOUCH WITH NORTHERN MICHIGAN."
Michigan State Senator McManus speaks with Linda Jones of the Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council on the importance of those products to the local economy. March 2008, Part 1 of 3.
Check out all 3 parts at YouTube!
***THE CONTEST IS OVER AND OUR WINNERS HAVE BEEN CONTACTED***
In conjunction with the Leelanau Peninsula Vintner's Association, Absolute Michigan is giving away 3 pair of tickets to the Leelanau Peninsula Vintner's Association spring trail event - Spring Sip & Savor which takes place on May 2 & 3, 2009. The event includes wine and food pairings at each winery, a limited edition LPVA glass coffee cup and a $10 gift certificate, that can be used at any LPVA winery!
For added fun, event participants are encouraged to keep their pajamas on when they set out in the morning and try to win one of the prizes that many of the wineries will be offering. The grand prize consists of two nights lodging at The Homestead in Glen Arbor during any season of the year (subject to availability), dinner for two with appetizers and desert at La Becasse in Maple City, Sunday brunch for two at the Bluebird in Leland, a wood fire pizza from Black Star Farms, perfect for lunch or light meal out on the trail and a fabulous gift basket filled with goodies.
Visit lpwines.com for complete details on this and future events as well as for information about the 17 member wineries that make up the LPVA!
And the winners are:
Dawn P. of East Lansing
Matthew L. of East Lansing
Dawn H. of Commerce Twp
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