A collaboration between Michigan and New York wine industries is a testament to the adage, “A rising tide raises all ships.”
By Emily Dockery
There are few words in the current era of wine as sexy and trendy as “sustainability.” Crafting an ethical approach to stewarding the land while bringing up a value-added, luxury crop — in this case, winegrapes — can be difficult. But the work is significantly easier when there’s guidance and support.
Michigan’s only statewide nonprofit supporting its wine industry, the Michigan Wine Collaborative (MWC), is a leader for advancing sustainability among the state’s winegrowers. It’s recently teamed with the New York Wine and Grape Foundation (NYWGF), Cornell Cooperative Extension, the New York Department of Agriculture, and of course, New York’s winegrape growers, to launch an initiative tailored to winegrowers and industry stakeholders throughout Michigan that want to codify their sustainability efforts.
At the helm of this effort is MWC’s Sustainability Chair Sidney Finan, who co-owns and operates Stranger Wine Company in Southwest Michigan. Finan saw a need for a certification program that takes into account the specific and unique needs of growers throughout the state. Programs such as LIVE and SIP are well-known and respected but can lack the perspective of cool climate growers.
Finan researched sustainability efforts in regions with similar growing conditions to that of Michigan and found that New York fit the bill. She then connected with NYWGF to learn more about its sustainability initiatives. NYWGF offered the opportunity to collaborate on customizing an already existing program, VineBalance, to fit the needs of Michigan winegrowers.
Sustainable across all considerations
With true sustainability, the land is not the only consideration, but also the people behind the production, the economics and the ethics.
The VineBalance Sustainable Viticulture Program was created to ensure proper soil health and manage water quality, and also to maintain quality of life for the people on the production side of things, neighbors of the farms and consumers. Additionally, the program provides guidance to sustain and/or increase profitability.
The pinnacle of this program is a workbook that empowers winegrowers with resources and tools to farm responsibly. Within the workbook, growers use a comprehensive guide and self assessment which covers input reduction, soil health, water protection, social equity and more. Michigan and New York collaborated to craft a version of the workbook that complimented the growers of Michigan’s winegrapes.
Alongside the VineBalance pilot is the Michigan State University (MSU) Sustainable Agriculture Management (SAM) Tool. This program will work in tandem with the VineBalance workbook in Michigan to further empower growers. Developed by Dr. Karen Chou and her team at MSU, the SAM tool features a computer-based program and mobile app to assist farmers in the field.
The goal of the SAM tool is to streamline decision-making for growers, delivering time and cost savings while boosting consumer confidence in Michigan wine. By offering accessible comparative data on risk, efficacy and weather conditions, and easy access to pest scouting information, the SAM Tool helps growers make informed decisions that balance cost, effectiveness and the environmental impact of their practices. This comprehensive approach aids growers in reducing chemical use, thus fostering more sustainable farming practices.
A key goal is for both programs to be accessible to the industry as a whole, regardless of affiliation with MWC or MSU. This leans into the social and industry equity aspect of sustainability by providing inclusive opportunities for all the state’s growers to thrive.
A model for other regions
While the VineBalance program is being developed for the state of Michigan, it has the potential to serve as a playbook for how other wine regions can work together to solidify their own sustainability efforts.
The wine industries east of the Mississippi are at a point of expansion and evolution. The opportunity to work together, combine resources and grow their regions through alliances is a leap forward and a win-win for all. MWC is confident this partnership can spark inspiration among wine regions on ways they can collaborate with other states to share information and resources as they build alliances to advance their own regions’ identities and achievements in wine.
While VineBalance is piloting in Michigan, MWC is exploring grant opportunities, sponsors and other funding mechanisms to facilitate a foundation that will allow for a strong statewide rollout. This exploratory phase has the potential to be a historic move for Michigan wine as well as for the legacy of New York viticulture.
Emily Dockery
Having experience in the vineyard, the cellar, and the retail sales floor has formed Emily Dockery into a Michigan wine marketing master. As executive director for the Michigan Wine Collaborative, Dockery has curated a network of like-minded Michigan wine enthusiasts, professionals and artists, as well as consistently securing Michigan wines on the global wine stage. She additionally pursues wine writing and provides marketing and consulting services through her business winemi and was previously the wine buyer for Harding’s Markets in Southwest Michigan.
