“Our experience has shown that wine consumers who visit Michigan from other states during the summer tourism months would like to purchase our wines over the winter when they return home,” said Don Coe, managing partner of Black Star Farms and a newly-appointed Michigan Agriculture Commissioner. “Direct sales to consumers in neighboring states will attract both distributors and retailers in those states to carry Michigan wines.”

The increased market access for Michigan wines is expected to fuel faster growth in the already growing industry. In the past eight years, the number of wineries has more than doubled to 43 and sales of Michigan wines in Michigan has increased 84 percent, outpacing the 39 percent increase in all wine sold in Michigan.

“We are very excited about the prospects for growth of this industry,” said Michigan Department of Agriculture Director Mitch Irwin. “Global changes in agricultural production, wineries and other forms of value-added agriculture play an important role in stabilizing rural economies and preserving open spaces.”

In 2003, the Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council set aggressive goals for growth over the next 20 years – an eight-fold increase in wine grape acreage across the state. This substantial increase in the size of the industry represents more than $125 million in new investment in vineyards and wineries and is expected to result in a $1 billion economic impact for the state each year by 2024.

A significant part of the economic impact will continue to come in the form of secondary benefits provided by the tourism industry in the communities that surround the wineries.

“Travelers will elect to stay longer and spend more in the regions when there are more attractions to visit, including wineries,” said Melinda Remer, marketing director for Travel Michigan.

A recent report by the Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council entitled “Michigan’s Wine Industry: Recent Growth, Economic Impact and Future Outlook” is available online at www.michiganwines.com, under Industry Resources/Council Business.