He has crafted old vine Zinfandel from Amador County, Sonoma County Chardonnay, Carneros Pinot Noir, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington Riesling, and Walla Walla Valley Sangiovese. Tonight, he was inviting prospective future winemakers to sample Red Hawk Seyval, Riesling and a red blend from several limited varietals from a tough weather year that left thin options to choose from. Best of all, Mike Moyer holds a passion to continue to capitalize on the Lake Michigan Shore Appellation with the assistance and blessing of many fellow winemakers in the region to bring on the next generation as the Southwest Michigan Wine Trail continues to grow.
Moyer is Lake Michigan College Program Director for Lake Michigan Vintners, the first and only commercial teaching winery in the entire Midwest, housed on the Napier Campus of Lake Michigan College. First year students engaged in the wine and viticulture technology helped Moyer to host a public open house at the Mendel Center this evening, hopeful of recruiting additional students into the hands-on experience in grape-growing and winemaking in the farm to table movement.
Students poured samples for the guests while Moyer networked with the potential recruits who turned out for the open house. The samples were drawn fresh from the vats where the first LMC vintage continues to age ahead of the first official bottling later this year, and for the first sales of the teaching winery's inaugural product which both Moyer and the students are rightfully proud of.
Even former Board Chair Judy Truesdell turned out for the open house and took the brief tour of the wine lab and storage facility where oak barrels and stainless vats hold the fruits of the first season's labors ahead of the first formal bottling process this fall.
Moyer and his team teach the art, science and business of wine and have managed to establish a curriculum that can help turn one's passion into a career in as short as a single year's time. Students who already have a college degree or college credits can potentially earn an Associate in Applied Science in Wine & Viticulture Technology in three semesters over the course of a single year, plus a capstone co-op, which can take place at any winery in the world.
Prior to joining LMC, Mr. Moyer worked with Figgins Family Wine Estates in Walla Walla, Washington where he crafted a variety of wines for the esteemed Leonetti label, as well as Doubleback, Figgins, and Toil Oregon. He was instrumental in designing and developing the Walla Walla Community College wine science program.
If you weren't able to make it to tonight's open house at LMC, the recruitment for classes is ongoing, and there's even a scholarship available courtesy of Round Barn Winery of Baroda. Contact Charmae Sanders at 927-8735 for class information or if you have questions…you can reach Mike Moyer at 927-8617 or by email at mmoyer@lakemichigancollege.edu.
