Back From Crystal Mountain

We spent most of last week at the Michigan Grape & Wine Industry Council annual meeting at Crystal Mountain. It's always a fun, educational experience.

The conference is always planned for a quiet time in the wineries, and that coincides with the "shoulder season" at Crystal... so the accommodations are quite affordable.

This year we stayed at the new "Cottages at Water's Edge" -- little 2 and 3 bedroom bungalows across the street from the conference center. Of course, I'm a bungalow fan (my house is a bigger bungalow) so, for me, these charming little cottages were perfect! Ours was a 2-bedroom named "Wild Rose." Perfect again, since we have a wild winery hostess dog named Rosie.

The sessions were very interesting and useful, we got to meet with lots of old friends, and (of course) try some great new wine. What's a winery conference without wine?

Thursday morning I got word that I had been appointed by Governor Granholm to the Wine Council. I've been working with the council for several years -- on their Promotions Committee and on a strategic planning task force. The Michigan Grape & Wine Industry Council is an incredibly helpful, professional organization and I'm honored to be a part of it.