Groups aim to expand wine industry
Source: State News
MSU researchers could be responsible for increasing wine-grape production, as well as tourism in state vineyards.
About 1,500 acres of land are devoted to Michigan’s wine industry in the northwest, and it is estimated that Michigan’s wine sales grow at an average of 9 percent each year.
“The industry is small; there are only 47 wineries in Michigan. Our goal is to have 10,000 acres of grapes in the state by 2024,” said Ron Perry, chairperson for MSU’s Department of Horticulture and a member of the Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council.
Project GREEEN, Generating Research and Extension to meet Economic and Environmental Needs, and the Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council worked to match research dollars to investigate what makes wineries successful and productive.
“We’re providing resources to identify potential sites and to look at existing vineyards and identify similar characteristics with other vineyards that are able to be mapped and low cost,” said Tracy Aichele, an MSU outreach specialist.
Linda Jones, executive director of the Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council said the project is designed to help develop the grape-wine industry throughout the state.
The impact of the industry is large on rural communities around Michigan that profit from tourists. Approximately 13,000 acres of grapes in southwest Michigan are devoted to the National Grape Cooperative also known as Welch’s.
Welch’s produces goods such as grape juice, jams and jellies.
“This industry can provide a lot of benefits through agri-tourism. We estimate more than a million visitors bring in (approximately) $100 million a year to Michigan’s economy,” Jones said.
Berrien County, Traverse City and Van Buren County have some of the state’s wineries and vineyards.
The Leelanau and Old Mission peninsulas also hold about 51 percent of the state’s wine-grape acreage, while counties located farther south and near Lake Michigan have about 45 percent of the state’s acreage.
“Those 47 wineries are more concerned that there really isn’t enough to supply their needs. They have to buy from other areas to supply those needs,” Perry said.
The quality of Michigan wine is very well-recognized in major competitions around the country, Jones said in a news release.
“If we could expand the industry to reach its potential, we could more actively promote the high quality of Michigan wines beyond our state’s borders,” Jones said.
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