Northern Michigan Wine Summit - 2008

The 2nd Annual Northern Michigan Wine Summit returns to Traverse City on Monday, April 28 at the Park Place Hotel as the wineries of both Old Mission and Leelanau Peninsula collaborate to increase the awareness and quality of their award-winning industry.

Some 150 industry VIPs – including restaurant & wine shop owners, educators, area wine distributors, tourism partners and the media – will gather throughout the day to be informed of the benefits of selling and supporting the local wine industry.

“This event allows us to identify and educate those in the service industry who are ambassadors for local wines,” says Liz Berger from Chateau Chantal Winery on Old Mission Peninsula. “We’ll give them the tools they need to inform their staff and ultimately their customers about the quality wines that we are producing this region.

Throughout the morning, a group of distinguished panelists will offer an outsiders perspective of the Northern Michigan wine region, addressing not only the quality of the wines but the impression the industry has throughout the state, and the impact that the wine industry has on the local, regional and state tourism economy.

Chef Eric Villages, host of the PBS Show “Fork in the Road” and author of the Michigan Notable Cookbook of the same name, will serve as moderator for the day’s activities. Panelists include:

• Kristin Kitely – Food and Beverage Director for Crystal Mountain Resort
  
  
• Richard Leahy – East Coast Editor and Director of Programs for Vineyard Winery & Management
  
  
• John State – Executive Chef for the Grand Rapids JW Marriott

• Madelline Triffon – Master Sommelier and beverage director for Matt Prentice Restaurant Group



• Claudia Tyagi – Master Sommelier and private wine consultant

At noon the panelists will focus on their special table that will then be featured at the trade tasting portion of the rest of the day. Each panelist will offer an educational table highlighting for example the difference between the various sweetness levels of Riesling, confidently selling Northern Michigan Red wines, or white Pinots. These wines will be “brown-bagged” to highlight the style, sweetness level, or varietal focus rather than the brand. Each participating winery will also have a tasting table and information about their wines.

From 1-4pm, service and retail staff from throughout the region will be asked to join in the tasting activities, getting a first hand introduction to the wines that are being produced in Northern Michigan.