February 18, 2009

Benton Harbor, Mich. - With a thirst for knowledge and a passion for wine, entrepreneurs from across the state gathered today at Michigan State University’s (MSU) Jordan Tatter Conference Center in Benton Harbor for intensive workshops on establishing a winery. The conference highlights the important role that the wine industry plays in Michigan’s agriculture and tourism industries.

Led by Dr. Bruce Zoecklein, Professor and head of the Enology and Grape-Chemistry Group at Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg, Virginia, a team of experts will cover a range of topics at the three-day conference with the sold out crowd of 100 attendees.

“The emphasis at this conference is sound winery planning and efficient designs tailored to the Great Lakes region,” said Zoecklein. “A solid business plan for any new winery is essential to a successful operation.”

Those in attendance found the first morning’s program to be very valuable and offer entrepreneurial opportunities.

“I believe there are opportunities in the Detroit area for a winery that’s convenient to the market,” said Mijo Alanis of southeast Michigan. “The expert speakers that have been brought in to this conference have lots of knowledge and have presented a range of ideas and detailed cost information that will be valuable to us in making a decision about what is the best avenue for us to pursue.”

Michigan ranks in the top 10 states nationwide for both wine grape production and wine production, and contributes over $300 million to the state’s economy annually. Michigan wines are gaining recognition from experts around the country.

“There is room for growth in Michigan for new wineries and vineyards,” said Linda Jones, Executive Director of the Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council. “Attracting new investment to the industry through conferences such as this is an important part of the Michigan Department of Agriculture’s economic development strategy.”

“With the beneficial climate we have here in southwest Michigan for wine grapes, it seemed natural to host a conference here in one of the state’s leading wine producing regions,” said Dr. Tom Zabadal, MSU professor of horticulture and key member of the conference planning team.

Along with MSU Extension and Project GREEEN; the Michigan Department of Agriculture’s Grape and Wine Industry Council; and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Program sponsored the conference. Additional supporters include GW Kent, GreenStone Farm Credit Services, the Southwestern Michigan Tourist Council and Cornerstone Alliance.

More information about the Michigan Wine Industry is available at www.michiganwines.com and resources for grape growers can be found at www.grapes.msu.edu.