As the 2024 season starts to pick up we would like to invite you to participate in the pilot year for the 2024 Michigan VineBalance program. VineBalance is a self-assessment grower workbook that aims to help growers implement and adopt the best sustainable viticultural management practices for our climate. 

The Workbook was graciously shared with us by the New York Grape and Wine foundation who published their first version of the workbook in 2007 in collaboration with Cornell Cooperative Extension, the New York Department of Agriculture, and of course the state's grape growers.

Throughout the workbook you will find criteria for sustainable practices that allow you to score and assess your current vineyard management program. The workbook encourages growers to continue working in the direction of “best practices” and improve their score over the years. 

To learn more about the program's inception and progress over the years, as well as preview the workbook please visit: 

https://newyorkwines.org/industry/sustainability/vinebalance-sustainable-viticulture-program/

Our hope is that we can work collaboratively throughout the 2024 growing season and beyond to modify the workbook to be best suited to our unique growing conditions in Michigan. The long term goal is to turn the VineBalance program into one of the first statewide sustainable viticulture certification programs. The sustainability committee of the Michigan Wine Collaborative has also been having discussions with LIVE to discuss getting the program LIVE accredited. This accreditation would help bring visibility to Michigan Viticulture highlighting our growers commitment to implementing internationally recognized sustainable viticulture standards.

By participating in this pilot program, you will have the opportunity to help shape the future of sustainability in our industry. We have a long way to go to see this goal be realized, but with the participation and input of our industry peers we are confident that we can do it! So with that said, if you have an interest in participating, please email the Michigan Wine Collaborative sustainability committee chair, Sidney Finan or executive director Emily Dockery to let us know of your interest. We will be sending out the grower workbook in March to interested participants, with more information on how to utilize the workbook. If interested, please send us the primary growers name and contact information. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out anytime! We hope to have you join us.