Michigan By The Bottle Opening Detroit Tasting Room
The founders of “Michigan By The Bottle”, a Detroit based internet wine publication, announced that they are partnering with six Michigan wineries to open a retail tasting room in the northern suburbs of Detroit near Troy. The new tasting room, which will open during mid-to-late December, will be called the Michigan By The Bottle Tasting Room.
Cortney Casey of Michigan By The Bottle said that the tasting room is a partnership between the business she operates with her husband, Shannon Casey, and six Michigan wineries. Those wineries are Chateau de Leelanau, Gill’s Pier Vineyard, Domaine Berrien Cellars, Sandhill Crane Vineyards, Chateau Aeronautique and Peninsula Cellars.
“We’re thrilled to be a part of it,” said Heather Price of Sandhill Crane Vineyards in Jackson. “A lot of new folks will discover us as a result of the new tasting room,” she said. Sandhill Crane self distributes, as do most of the other wineries featured at the MichiganBy The Bottle Tasting Room.
Tasting rooms that feature multiple wineries can be found in California, Oregon and the Finger Lakes, but the Casey’s venture may be the first of its type in the Midwest. “Joint tasting rooms have been successful elsewhere in the country, but this is the first time in Michigan that multiple previously unaffiliated wineries have come together under a single roof,” Cortney said.
The tasting room will occupy a renovated space in a shopping center at 45645 Hayes in Shelby Township, MI. “We chose the location due to its proximity to Lakeside and Partridge Creek Malls and other retail establishments,” Cortney said. “I grew up just a few miles away in Sterling Heights, and we currently reside near the tasting room location, so we’re familiar with the area and how it’s bustling with metro Detroit residents and visitors alike.”
When the tasting room opens, Shannon will continue in his full-time position as sales director for BBC Title Agency. Cortney is currently a reporter for C & G Newspapers, the state’s largest non-daily newspaper chain, where she has worked for 11 years.
“When the tasting room opens, I plan to transition to being a full-time co-owner and tasting room manager, as well as continuing to work on Michigan By The Bottle and our offshoot operation, MBTB Media,” she said.
Michigan By The Bottle Tasting Room will offer wine tastings by flights with small bites, as well as sales by the bottle. Social and educational events are planned also.
Cortney said that the Michigan By The Bottle Tasting Room will make Michigan wine more accessible to metro Detroit residents.
“Northwest, southwest, south central, even in the Thumb: They all have wineries and ready access to Michigan wine – or at least, it seems “readier” than us. Yet, a significant portion of the state’s population lives here, in metro Detroit,” she said. “Our goal is to provide a comfortable, relaxing environment for people to try Michigan wine and buy Michigan wine. ”
On their website, the Casey’s extended thanks to the following individuals and organizations for making the tasting room a reality, including the six partner wineries, the Sterling Heights Regional Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Grape & Wine Industry Council and several Michigan state representatives.
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I am fascinated by the shared tasting room concept. I am curious as to the type of license that was issued by the MLCC. Is it a SDM with a tasting permit and if so does the permit have to be applied for by each winery? I’ve never figured out how the MLCC would regulate or “control” this type of arrangement. In the past we were able to retail wines from other wineries but not offer them for tasting. We are no longer allowed to do this. I hope the partnership works for all involved, it will be good for our industry!