Midwest Wine Press

Michigan Brewers Tired of Paying for Wine Research

by · July 27, 2015

One reason that Michigan has such a robust wine industry is the money from non-retailer state license fees for breweries, distillers and wineries goes to fund the Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council.  That funding brings in about $750,000 per year.

But now Michigan is growing about 400 acres of hops for beer.  That’s small in comparison with the approximately 2,600 acres of grapes in Michigan, but the brewers appear to have a valid point.  We No one likes to pay taxes and fees and get nothing in return.

See: Brewers Bemoan Paying Fees That Fund Wine Industry

 

Mark Ganchiff

Mark Ganchiff is the publisher of Midwest Wine Press, the leading source of news on the growing wine industry in the central United States. Mark has been a wine judge at the 2012 and 2014 INDY International Wine Competition, the 2014 Cold Climate Wine Competition, the 2013 Mid-American Wine Competition, the 2012 Illinois State Fair Wine Competition and the 2013 Michigan Wine Competition. He also enjoys speaking at wine events including the Cold Climate Wine Conference, the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association Annual Meeting, the Midwest Grape and Wine Conference and the Wisconsin Fruit and Vegetable Conference. Mark's articles about regional wine have appeared in Vineyard & Winery Management, WineMaker and several regional magazines. Mark is a Level One Sommelier in the Court of Master Sommeliers. He lives in Louisville, but also has a residence in Chicago.

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