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Michigan vintners to pour wine at major fund-raiser for fair shipping legislation
By Sandra Silfven - The Detroit News - The Wine Report | August 18, 2005
Michigan winery owners, playing David to the wholesalers' Goliath in the continuing battle over wine distribution rules, have decided to fight fire with fire and hire a lobbyist.
"We are up against the best-funded political action committee in the state (the Michigan Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association)," says Don Coe, managing partner of Black Star Farms, which produces the Arcturos line of wines.
"We as small wineries, without any professional representation in Lansing for the last 75 years (since the repeal of Prohibition), need to employ the assistance of lobbying and public relations professionals to assist us in telling our story to the Legislature."
Of course, a lobbyist costs money.
So, in an unprecedented show of unity, more than half of all the vintners in the state will pour their wines at a tasting to raise money to fight proposed legislation that denies them many long-held rights.
Winemakers and proprietors from around the state will be on hand at "Michigan Tour de Vin" from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24, at Uncle John's Cider Mill, which also has a winery, in St. Johns, just outside Lansing (see below for directions). The cost is $25 if purchased by Aug. 22 or $30 at the door.
The event includes food by Morton's Fine Catering, live entertainment by Edward Groves and guitarist Keith Axtell, and a silent
auction with special tours and gourmet dinners at the wineries.
Sponsors are the Greater Lansing Vintners Club, the largest wine club in the state, and Michigan Vine, www.michiganvine.com, an online service by Lorri Hathaway and Sharon Kegerreis, which reports on industry news, the wineries and wine tourism.
"Why is the Vintners Club sponsoring this event?" writes president Michael Brenton, a Lansing lawyer, in a mass mailing to his contacts. "Simply put, Michigan wineries have always enjoyed the right to distribute their wines direct from their own tasting rooms, and to restaurants, retailers and bars. They have also enjoyed the right to ship their wines direct to customers. Legislation has been introduced in the Michigan House and the Michigan Senate which would strip wineries of their right to distribute their own wines and which would also strip wineries of their right to ship wines direct to their own customers.
"Likewise," he added, "the legislation would continue to prevent Michigan consumers from being able to order wine from out-of-state wineries."
This event will help pay for a lobbyist, and hopefully save a thriving industry. Michigan has seen the opening of 17 new wineries in the last five years, Brenton points out. He also notes that direct shipping to customers represents 30 percent of Michigan wineries' sales. For small, elite brands like Wyncroft, it's 100 percent.
Wyncroft will pour its wines at this event, a first for the small winery that sells its coveted wines only by the case to a mailing list of customers and has no tasting room.
To attend, here's what you need to know:
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Michigan winery owners, playing David to the wholesalers' Goliath in the continuing battle over wine distribution rules, have decided to fight fire with fire and hire a lobbyist.
"We are up against the best-funded political action committee in the state (the Michigan Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association)," says Don Coe, managing partner of Black Star Farms, which produces the Arcturos line of wines.
"We as small wineries, without any professional representation in Lansing for the last 75 years (since the repeal of Prohibition), need to employ the assistance of lobbying and public relations professionals to assist us in telling our story to the Legislature."
Of course, a lobbyist costs money.
So, in an unprecedented show of unity, more than half of all the vintners in the state will pour their wines at a tasting to raise money to fight proposed legislation that denies them many long-held rights.
Winemakers and proprietors from around the state will be on hand at "Michigan Tour de Vin" from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24, at Uncle John's Cider Mill, which also has a winery, in St. Johns, just outside Lansing (see below for directions). The cost is $25 if purchased by Aug. 22 or $30 at the door.
Mike Brenton, president of the Greater
Lansing Vintners Club and founding member of WineCAM, with partner Deborah Cole.
Sponsors are the Greater Lansing Vintners Club, the largest wine club in the state, and Michigan Vine, www.michiganvine.com, an online service by Lorri Hathaway and Sharon Kegerreis, which reports on industry news, the wineries and wine tourism.
"Why is the Vintners Club sponsoring this event?" writes president Michael Brenton, a Lansing lawyer, in a mass mailing to his contacts. "Simply put, Michigan wineries have always enjoyed the right to distribute their wines direct from their own tasting rooms, and to restaurants, retailers and bars. They have also enjoyed the right to ship their wines direct to customers. Legislation has been introduced in the Michigan House and the Michigan Senate which would strip wineries of their right to distribute their own wines and which would also strip wineries of their right to ship wines direct to their own customers.
"Likewise," he added, "the legislation would continue to prevent Michigan consumers from being able to order wine from out-of-state wineries."
This event will help pay for a lobbyist, and hopefully save a thriving industry. Michigan has seen the opening of 17 new wineries in the last five years, Brenton points out. He also notes that direct shipping to customers represents 30 percent of Michigan wineries' sales. For small, elite brands like Wyncroft, it's 100 percent.
Wyncroft will pour its wines at this event, a first for the small winery that sells its coveted wines only by the case to a mailing list of customers and has no tasting room.
To attend, here's what you need to know:
- You can purchase tickets at http://www.michiganvine.com/online_registration
- If you can't attend but want to help the cause, go to WineCAM, the Web site of a grassroots group of passionate wine lovers who are campaigning for a fair direct wine shipping law in Michigan. There, you can read more about the issues and make a donation.
- Read more about the tasting and wineries that are participating at www.michiganvine.com/articles/tourdevine
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