The Michigan State University Extension office in Berrien County is planning an extended Michigan Viticulture Field Day for this summer.
MSU Extension viticulture specialist Mike Reinke tells us this will actually be two days of education.
“We’ve been doing the viticulture field day for about 35 years now,” Reinke said. “And this year, at the request of the growers and winemakers in the region, we decided to expand it to add a second day just for the winemakers.”
Reinke says most of the grape production in Southwest Michigan is related to juice, but winemaking has really taken off in recent years, prompting winemakers to ask for more of a chance to interact and learn. He says growers and those interested in growing come to Viticulture Field Day from all over the state because when it comes to grapes, Southwest Michigan is where it’s at.
“In Southwest Michigan, we have about 12,000 acres of grapes, and 10,000 of that is juice. The whole state has about 14,000 acres, and 12,000 of that is down here.”
Viticulture Field Day will feature a full day of education with time spent out in the field, demonstrations, and an exhibitor show. Attendees will learn about things like new equipment, soil health, and more.
The event will be held July 31 at the Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center outside of Benton Harbor, and on August 1 at Lake Michigan College’s Welch Center.
