April 9, 2009

The new edition of the popular Michigan Wine Country magazine is now available, kicking off “Michigan Wine Month” and marking the beginning of the 2009 touring season. It is an indispensable guide for touring Michigan’s 64 wineries.

The 2009 Michigan Wine Country magazine features 48 pages of the latest news and information on Michigan’s world-class wines and wineries—including eight new wineries--plus maps, activities and events. The magazine also offers a winemakers’ list of favorites, as well as information on newly released wines and unique tasting rooms throughout the state.

Michigan wines continue to grow in popularity, outpacing the growth of wine consumption overall. Tasting rooms also see an increasing number of visitors every year. More than 800,000 tourists will visit Michigan wineries in 2009, generating more than $10 million in wine-related tourism expenditures.

Linda Jones, executive director of the Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council, attributes this trend to two factors. “Wine consumers across the U.S.are embracing local foods and wines as part of a growing movement to ‘buy local’ in tough economic times,” said Jones. “And in most cases, the grapes are grown near the winery, providing winery visitors with a sense of ‘place’ that enhances the enjoyment of the wine.”

Complimentary copies of Michigan Wine Country are available at Michigan wineries, Travel Michigan Welcome Centers and wine retail stores. The publication can also be requested online at www.michiganwines.com, or by contacting the council at 517-241-1207.

The Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council is an 11-member panel that supports the growth of the grape and wine industry in Michigan. It is housed in the Agriculture Development Division of the Michigan Department of Agriculture, which is the official state agency charged with serving, promoting and protecting the food, agriculture and agricultural economic interests of the people of the state of Michigan.