Petition for wine tax relief in Michigan underway

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Petition for wine tax relief in Michigan underway

The Michigan wine industry is working to implement a checkoff program to better support winemakers and wineries across the state.

Brian Lillie is with the nonprofit Michigan Wine Collaborative and the Chateau Chantal winery.

“For this to be taken into account, we need to bring together 51 percent of the producers who represent 51 percent of the cultivated area,” he explains. “Signing the petition does not necessarily mean signing an assessment.”

The petition calls on the director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to consider implementing a new marketing program that focuses on research, education and promotion of the industry.

“We could certainly catapult this industry to the next level for future generations, and we’re talking about things like sustainability programs, regenerative agriculture, things that could really give back,” he says.

According to Lillie, the state’s wine industry is worth more than $6.3 billion a year, but winemakers do not have a unified voice.

“They would have the opportunity to sit at the table when it comes to determining the design of the legislation. And of course the producers would also sit at the table,” he says.

The petition also calls for the convening of a temporary committee of Michigan grape growers to develop royalties, assessment rates and public hearings on the proposed 232 Program.

AUDIO: Brian Lillie, Michigan Wine Collaborative