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Northwest Michigan wineries struggling to keep up with demand

Iulus Ascanius via Wikimedia | Public Domain
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Even though most of the wine is produced and bottled locally, tasting rooms are having a tough time keeping up.

Despite the high cost of fuel, tourism has not slowed down in Traverse City. But some travel experiences may have a little less wine than dine.

Amanda Danielson describes tourism in Traverse City this summer as being “wild” and “fantastic.” She’s a sommelier and wine consultant in Traverse City.

And even though most of the wine is produced and bottled locally, tasting rooms are having a tough time keeping up.

“The wineries are selling everything they're making. So, there is not a lot of wine, I mean this the supply is not meeting the demand.

Danielson says some vineyards are bringing in grapes from out of state.

Michigan has roughly thirteen thousand vineyard acres, which is not a lot compared to other vineyard heavy states.

But Danielson says land is being snatched up by out-of-state producers looking to take advantage of the “forever freshwater” of the Great Lakes.

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