Establishment of the Tip of the Mitt American Viticultural Area
alcohol wine American viticultural areas viticultural areas alochol labeling Tip of the Mitt Michigan
2015-09-11 2015-09-14 2015-08-26 2015-09-11 2015-08-17 2015-09-11 2015-09-14 2015-10-06 2015-10-06 2015-09-11
TTB-2015-0011-0013 TTB-2015-0011-0015 TTB-2015-0011-0007 TTB-2015-0011-0012 TTB-2015-0011-0006 TTB-2015-0011-0011 TTB-2015-0011-0014 TTB-2015-0011-0017 TTB-2015-0011-0018 TTB-2015-0011-0009
04:00:00 04:00:00 04:00:00 04:00:00 04:00:00 04:00:00 04:00:00 04:00:00 04:00:00 04:00:00
https://api.regulations.gov/v4/comments/TTB-2015-0011-0013 https://api.regulations.gov/v4/comments/TTB-2015-0011-0015 https://api.regulations.gov/v4/comments/TTB-2015-0011-0007 https://api.regulations.gov/v4/comments/TTB-2015-0011-0012 https://api.regulations.gov/v4/comments/TTB-2015-0011-0006 https://api.regulations.gov/v4/comments/TTB-2015-0011-0011 https://api.regulations.gov/v4/comments/TTB-2015-0011-0014 https://api.regulations.gov/v4/comments/TTB-2015-0011-0017 https://api.regulations.gov/v4/comments/TTB-2015-0011-0018 https://api.regulations.gov/v4/comments/TTB-2015-0011-0009
Carol Brendan Geoff & gail Charles James Helen Corinne Wendy Perry Harry "budd"
Weston Prewitt Frey Veneros Peters Leithauser Martin Wieland Nelson Wagner
This is an important step for Michigans economy.  This is a REALLY GOOD for all Michiganders.  Lets get this approved! As testament to the growth of the wine industry within the proposed AVA; when we first planted our vineyard within the proposed AVA just a couple years ago, there were four wineries established that would eventually become members of the Bay View Wine Trail.  There are now nine wineries on this trail and more in the pipeline (1), along with other wineries that are not a part of the trail but sit within the proposed AVA.  With Michigans wine industry sales doubling in the past 10 years (2) and the number of wineries growing from 42 in 2005 to 117 in 2015 (2,3), its clear that Michigans wine industry is still, very much, in its growth stages.  The rapid rise of wineries in currently established AVAs in the region just southwest of the proposed Tip of the Mitt AVA, the Leelanau Peninsula and Old Mission AVAs, speaks to the potential for the proposed AVA.  Despite the wine industry within the AVA being predominately just a few years old, it is already winning awards in competitions as large as the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition (4).  Thus, it is clear that there is enough winemaker talent within the region to continue to drive recognition of the proposed AVA.  With two million tourists stepping foot inside Michigan wineries annually (2), the establishment of the Tip of the Mitt AVA will further enhance the regions ability to promote its local wine industry, as tourism already plays a hugely significant role in the region.  With an established grape growers association (Straits Area Grape Growers Association, the petitioner of the AVA), an established wine trail and ever increasing numbers of vineyard acreage and wineries, the establishment of the Tip of the Mitt AVA is the apparent next step in cementing the future of the local wine and grape industry.  Thank you for taking the time to consider the Tip of the Mitt AVA petition!Brendan PrewittOwner, Harvest Thyme Farm  VineyardsMember, Straits Area Grape Growers Association(1) http://bayviewwinetrail.com/wineries/(2) https://www.michiganwines.com/article?news_id=5article_id=139(3) https://www.michiganwines.com/docs/Industry/growth_of_mi_wine_oct06.pdf(4) http://www.fliwc.com/results/2014results.asp (see results for Mackinaw Trail and Crooked Vine wineries) The proposed Tip of the Mitt AVA will be one of the northern most AVAs.  Its climate, soil, and relationship to the surrounding cold waters of the Great Lakes makes it a challenge to growing most cash crops let along wine grapes.However, with the new varieties of complex hybrid vines coming from breeders (U of MN, Cornell, T. Plocher,etc) for cold climates, a group of grape growers and winery owners have accepted this challenge and put money, time and effort forward.We are like startups in silicon valley and we are growing.  This new AVA will help us expand and produce more and better grapes for wine-making and consumer acceptance.I appreciate the TTBs consideration and efforts in helping all of us get the Tip of the Mitt AVA approved.Regards,Geoff  Gail FreyOwners Crooked Vine Vineyard  WineryMembers Straits Area Grape Growers Association  Bay View Wine Trail   Twenty years ago my vineyard and a local winery were the only ones growing grapes in the Cheboygan area. In the last few years we have seen a new generation of vineyards are emerging in Northern Michigan. The younger generations are increasingly learning modern viticultural and enological methods from their schools, friends, and working at a number of wineries in the region. People are excited about the possibility that the region could be designated as a Viticultural Area.  The more vineyards that are planted, the better chance we have of finding these locales that produce profound bottles of wine from Norther Michigan and the United States.  I urge you as a Regulations Board members to approve this request establishing the Tip of the Mitt Viticultural Area in Northern Michigan.Thank you for your time Charles N. Veneros The Tip of the Mitt is a much needed and much anticipated designation for growers and winemakers within the proposed AVA.  This area is unique in many ways including but not limited to soil, climate, water quality and tourism.  The Tip of the Mitt Viticultural Area will help advance the interest in viticulture and help promote the agritourisom industry bringing much needed jobs to this area.  Thank You to ALL that helped make this possible.Sincerely,Jim PetersPresidentStraits Area Grape Growers Association    Establishing the Tip of the Mitt as an AVA is critical to the economy of our region.  In past decade, we have seen the number of vineyards and wineries increase phenomenally, from one winery in 2005 to 13 today.  Nearly all of the grape growers and wineries are growing and fermenting cold hardy varieties specific to our area.  The grapes and the wines produced in our region are unique to the northern-most part of Michigan and they complement the local food offerings in our restaurants and resorts.  North Central Michigan College has been very active in supporting the Straits Area Grape Growers Association with educational programs and job skills training to help support the grape growers and wineries in our region.  The partnership is strong and the growth in this industry has been phenomenal.  Many of our viticulture students are now working in the industry and some even have opened new wineries.  The establishment of the Tip of the Mitt Viticulture Area is critical to the continued growth of the grape and wine business in our region and to the overall health of our economy.  We hope you consider these facts and approve the request.  Helen Leithauser, Corporate  Community Education Training Coordinator, North Central Michigan College, Petoskey, Michigan.   Tip of theMitt AVA-  With the increased interest in wines and point of origin of grapes, the Tip of the Mitt AVA is, I believe, a necessary distinction to assist the present and future wineries in this area.  They all need grapes.  Northern Michigan grapes, to further their acceptance in the world of wine.  Our AVA would increase the Pure Michigan aspect.  Our varieties cannot be grown everywhere.   Northern Michigan soil, and Northern Michigan sunshine make our grapes unique. To Whom It May Concern, Im writing in support of the establishment of the Tip of the Mitt AVA in the northern lower peninsula of Michigan. As an Agricultural Innovation Counselor with Michigan State Universitys Product Center, I have worked with several wineries and vintners in the proposed area over the past 5 years. I have been impressed by the rapid development of these ventures and of the progress of the entire business cluster in our area. This is in no small part to the fact that key individuals and strategic partners in both industry and education have worked extensively in order to help build this wine region. Now, following the brutally cold winters of 2014 and 2015, area growers planting cold hardy varieties are being given a serious and second look by some of the most established vintners in the State. I think the future looks bright for these businesses as they capitalize on the areas unique agricultural features and the 100+ year tradition of traveling up north to enjoy some of the states most beloved tourist and resort destinations. Having worked with wineries in both the AVAs directly to our geographic south, on the Old Mission and Leelanau Peninsulas, I understand the marketing opportunities that are created for a winery once an AVA is established. One of those opportunities is the ability to produce and sell estate bottled wines; I think this could offer the Tip of the Mitt wineries a unique and eventual competitive advantage as more and more cold hardy vines come into production. My final comments are regarding the proposed name, Tip of the Mitt. A part of my role at the Michigan State University Product Center is to assist clients with branding their business or product; I understand the importance of a unique and evocative name. Tip of the Mitt very accurately describes the geographic area that the proposed AVA encompasses. While it may be a reference that is unique to those with Michigan literacy, it would seem to be no more or less colloquial than other AVAs... Virginias Rocky Knob or Washingtons Horse Heaven Hills.  I have recently worked with another non-profit group that considered Tip of the Mitt as a name for their new organization, because it perfectly described the area they intend to represent. While they ultimately decided against the name in deference to another well-known non-profit that uses Tip of the Mitt, this group came to the conclusion that is was the only name that accurately defined a similar geographic area that is being considered for the AVA.  It is exceedingly difficult to find a perfect name to brand a product, a business, or an AVA. Most certainly, a name should evoke something to both those businesses who will share in the brand, and to those most likely to be customers of the brand. I feel Tip of the Mitt accomplishes both of these objectives.  Sincerely, Wendy WielandInnovation Counselor, Michigan State University Product CenterGreening Institute, Michigan State University ExtensionOffice Location: Harbor Springs, MI (inside the proposed AVA)  Having the proposed AVA (Tip of the Mitt) approved will recognize northern Michigan as viable grape growing region which will help not only the current growers,but interest more farmers to get involved with the wine industry. Since I have started growing grapes ten wineries have opened within the proposed AVA. This has been great for the tourist trade in the area which has also helped with employment. Thank you for  your consideration. Relative to the proposed Tip of the Mitt AVA I first want to thank you for all the work you have put into looking at and moving forward with the approval.As a grape grower of cold hardy wine grapes of four different cultivars, I am so pleased to see the numbers of new growers increasing as well as the interest in growing grapes to supply the growing number of wineries in northern Lower peninsula of Michigan. The are seven new wine is that were not open four years ago when I first planted grapes.  There are more wineries in the development stages planning to open within the next year or two which will need grapes.I believe strongly that approval of the Tip of the Mitt AVA would most beneficial in promoting the grape industry in northern MI with the thousands of tourists wanting to taste wines made from our cold hardy cultivars.Again thank you for your moving forward on this.Budd and Katherine WagnerOwners. Wagner 8th Day VineyardMember of Straits Area Grape Growers Association