JUDGEMENT POSTPONED

JUDGEMENT OF MICHIGAN POSTPONED

Supply chain issues, staffing concerns play a role in decision

By Greg Tasker

ne of the Michigan wine industry’s biggest events -- an annual wine judging and reception -- will not take place this O summer.

Organizers of the Judgement of Michigan decided to postpone the event until the summer of 2023 because of supply chain issues and staffing concerns at the host venue, Lake Michigan College in Benton Harbor, says Emily Dockery, executive director of the Michigan Wine Collaborative, a nonprofit organization that promotes the state’s wine industry and is a partner in the judging program.

“We definitely wanted to have (the event) in 2022, but it wasn’t in the cards,” Dockery says. “We’re really proud of this event. We just didn’t have the resources available to replicate what we did last year … We’re planning to make 2023 super solid,”

The annual judging returned last summer after a hiatus with a new name, new location, new judges, new format and a reinvigorated focus on spreading the word about the quality and variety of wines being produced in the Great Lakes State.

Called the Judgement of Michigan, a play on the famous Paris tasting in which unknown California wines bested French wines, the event brought together an all-new, more diverse panel of judges from Michigan and other parts of the country to evaluate wines submitted by about 55 wineries in a blind tasting. The judges represented restaurateurs, distributors, sommeliers, wine retailers, national writers and social influencers. The Judgement was a successor to the Michigan Wine Competition, which was held for more than 40 years at various locations but no longer exists. That competition was sponsored by the now-defunct Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council.

Organizers launched the new event last year with a different view of judging Michigan wines. While wines were divided by categories, each wine was judged on its own merits, and not against other wines in the same category. Gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded. Double gold was deemed the highest honor. The Judgement of Michigan was viewed as an opportunity to introduce or reintroduce state-produced wines to relevant judges in the wine community who can help Michigan wine reach more consumers. The hope was the award-winning wines and others in Michigan would find their way onto restaurant menus and sales portfolios, more store shelves and in the cellars of new consumers. About 350 to 360 wines were evaluated last year -- almost the same as the 2019 competition, under the old format. In all, the judges in 2021 awarded eight Double Gold, 33 Gold, 58 Silver and 76 Bronze medals. The event’s planning committee asked the judging squad to be brutally honest during the evaluation. The judges only awarded medals to wines that deserved recognition. About 50% of the wines were not awarded any type of medal; in the last Michigan competition, only 8% of the wines were not given medals.

Even though judging will not take place this summer, the Michigan Wine Collaborative is going ahead with trade events that had been planned as part of the new competition.

“We’ll be focusing on launching trade events highlighting the winning wineries from 2021 in metropolitan areas throughout 2022, including areas such as Detroit and Grand Rapids,” the Michigan Wine Collaborative said in a statement. “These events will invite active buyers and writers from within the state to taste Michigan wines for their wine sets, lists and media opportunities as well as sessions to educate the trade on Michigan wine and grapes.”

Dockery says details are still being worked out but a replica of an industry-only, networking event called Nerd & Nosh (held following the 2021 judging), is being planned at Detroit Vineyards, a winery at Eastern Market in Detroit. The goal is to invite sommeliers, wine buyers, wine writers and others in the industry. A date will be announced.

“We want to get the industry more interested in Michigan wines,” Dockery says. “We want to work on creating a larger footprint for Michigan wine in Detroit and elsewhere. In lieu of a tasting evaluation, we are looking for something that could be impactful for Michigan wine sales.”

Also in the works is a tasting event at House of Pure Vin, a wine retailer in downtown Detroit. The plan is to have a tasting with some of the winemakers from last year's Double Gold medal winners. A date will be announced.

“We want to get people interested in and energized about Michigan wine,” Dockery says. Emily Dockery

The Judgement of Michigan 2021 Double Gold winners

Black Star Farms, Arcturos Winter Harvest Riesling Cherry Creek Cellars, Cabernet Sauvignon Forty-Five North Vineyard and Winery, Afterglow (a blend of Riesling and Vignoles) Lemon Creek Winery, Gewurztraminer Petoskey Farms Vineyard and Winery, Frontenac Blanc St. Julian Winery, St. Julian Solera Cream Winery Verterra Winery, Pinot Blanc Verterra Winery, Late Harvest Riesling

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Greg Tasker is associate editor for Michigan Uncorked and is a former entertainment editor at The Detroit News. He is a professional journalist with extensive writing and editing experience. Specialties include travel writing and editing, Michigan wines, business, automotive, features.