Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/333548
2 6 V I N E YA R D & W I N E RY M A N A G E M E N T | J u l y - A u g 2 014 w w w. v w m m e d i a . c o m help selling pinot noir or chardon- nay, so why would they make the effort to try to sell $45-$65 bottles of wine at the farmers market? It makes no sense." Sutton has sold his wines at local markets, including SF Made, which operates on federal land at Fort Mason and the Presidio and where state laws don't apply. His salvation was finding an urban loca- tion for his winery and tasting room in the up-and-coming Dogpatch neighborhood of San Francisco, where foot traffic is increasing and he can still offer a personalized experience. Finally, customers are coming to him. MICHIGAN FRUSTRATIONS M i c h i g a n w i n e r y B l a c k S t a r Farms in Suttons Bay has been similarly frustrated by the state law that allows local wineries to sell wine at farmers markets – as long as they produce less than 5,000 gallons of wine per year. "Black Star Farms has lobbied for farmers market legislation for a number of years," said managing partner Don Coe. "We were happy to see the legislature take action, but disappointed that the final bill limited the privilege to very small wineries – essentially disenfran- chising Black Star Farms, as well as many other wineries in the state. What real purpose is served by size of the winery limitation, other than creating discrimination?" While virtually all farmers market wine sales bills favor local winer- ies and discriminate against out-of- state wineries to whatever extent possible, it appears that the legisla- tion passed in Michigan in 2013 was clearly tailored to fit the needs of the small wineries in the sponsoring senator's home district on the east- ern shore of Lake Michigan, outside of any established AVA. A c c o r d i n g t o L i n d a J o n e s , executive director of the Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council, only three farmers market sales permits have been issued so far, but that's partly because the bill passed in the fall when the mar- ket season was already winding down. "There's a lot of paperwork involved in the application," Jones said. "I think a lot of people just said, 'We'll figure it out over the winter and start in the spring.'" Spring has been late in coming to the upper Midwest this year. Jones, who represents winer- ies of all sizes in Michigan, said, "I to a farmers market and sell their Fiona's Hill Pinot and their George's Hill Chardonnay. They couldn't sell their Timbervine Syrah that's grown on the property adjacent to theirs, because they don't own and farm the grapes. They couldn't pour their carignane, because it's from Men- docino County. They don't need any D E S I G N S O L U T I O N S S E R V I C E D E L I V E R Y Westec's Tank Jackets and Porta- ble Tanks feature one-piece seamless sidewall; 59" dimple jacket; more effec- tive heating and cooling; stackable and "forkliftable"; and sloped floor for easy drainage and cleaning. Innovations like our Locking Spin Handle help prevent inadvertent opening of door when tank is full, unwanted entry of tank, and theft of parts and pieces. For Westec tanks and retrofitting existing tanks. Please contact us today for more information, and an estimate for your next job. MARKET WATCH TIM TEICHGRAEBER