Dirt to Glass

We are especially excited about the Dirt to Glass 2026 program because it reflects what DTG was created to be: a direct interaction between science, vineyard management, winemaking, and the real challenges and opportunities facing the MI grape and wine industry.

The strength of the conference continues to come from the collaboration between MSU, growers, vineyard managers, wineries, researchers, educators, and industry partners working together around common goals for MI wine quality and long-term sustainability.

The 2026 program features an outstanding lineup of invited speakers, but equally important is the active participation of MI industry leaders throughout the conference. This interaction will be particularly evident during the Day 1 panel discussions and throughout the Day 2 vineyard sessions.

Day 2 has been designed as a highly interactive vineyard experience. The sessions will provide opportunities for direct discussion among growers, consultants, researchers, and winery professionals while examining real vineyard situations. We are especially grateful to the vineyard owners, growers, and industry speakers who generously opened their vineyards and committed their time and expertise to make these technical discussions possible.

Thank you again for your continued support, participation, and collaboration. We look forward to seeing you at the DTG Conference!

Dirt to Glass 2026: From soil to sensory, Michigan’s next leap in vineyard and wine quality Dirt to Glass has grown into Michigan’s statewide platform connecting growers, winemakers, researchers and industry leaders to drive measurable improvements from vineyard to glass. Registration is open for the Aug. 20–21, 2026 conference in Traverse City.

🍇 Day 2 Field Session Spotlight—
Life Beneath the Vines: Understanding Soil Biology and It’s Role in Vineyard Efficiency

This interactive field session, hosted by Leelanau Cellars, explores the hidden world beneath the vineyard surface, focusing on the critical role of soil biology in driving vine performance and overall vineyard efficiency.

Alexa Kipper, CropscoutChristiee, and Marcel Lenz will present seasonal data on soil quality and health collected directly from vineyard blocks. This field-collected data connects patterns in soil activity to key aspects of vine performance and highlights the importance of managing soils as living systems rather than inert growing media.

Attendees will also get the chance to observe a live, in-field demonstration of tools and techniques used to assess soil quality. This hands-on component is designed to provide practical skills that can be directly applied in commercial vineyard settings.

This session is perfect for growers, consultants, and industry professionals seeking to enhance vineyard efficiency through a deeper understanding of the living soil ecosystem.

🍇 Day 2 Field Session Spotlight—
Digging Deeper: Exploring Vineyard Soils from the Pit to the Root Zone at Lone Silo Vineyards.

The Lone Silo Vineyard Field Visit will allow our Day 2 attendees the unique opportunity to explore the fundamental role of soil in shaping vineyard performance and wine quality. Owners Larry and Sandy Tiefenbach will guide participants through the distinctive characteristics of their site’s clay-dominate soils, engaging directly with a series of soil pits excavated in different parts of their vineyard.

This session will also highlight the direct connection between soil and wine type. Grapes from Lone Silo Vineyard are used by Winemaker Andrew Backlin of Modales Wines to produce a terroir-driven wine that reflects the vineyard’s unique soil profile. Attendees will have the chance to taste this wine in the vineyard, connecting soil characteristics with sensory attributes in the glass.

We visited Lone Silo this week to check in on the vineyard as we prepare for August (the last image features a special pest-management team member) and finalize programming.

A limited number of Early Bird tickets are still available for a discounted price!

https://www.traversecity.com/food-wine/events/dirt-to-glass/

Registration for the fifth annual Dirt to Glass™ is officially live!

The 2026 theme is efficiency, and this year’s speaker lineup is incredibly impressive. We’ll share details about individual Day 1 talks, Day 2 field visits, and other exciting features of this year’s conference 2–3 times per week, so stay tuned here and on Instagram.

The first 50 registrants will receive a deep discount, so now is the time to secure your spot.

Thank you to Traverse City Tourism for providing a platform for conference registration this year.

Dirt to Glass Designed to empower growers, winemakers, and industry professionals, Dirt to Glass is not just a conference—it’s a catalyst for transformation. With its unique focus on the entire agricultural value chain, from soil health to final product, the event offers vital insights for achieving quality, ...

Registration for the fifth annual Dirt to Glass™ conference will go live this week, featuring a first day of seminar programming followed by a second day in the field, where ideas move from presentation to practice.

Over the course of those two days, Dirt to Glass™ 2026 will feature an outstanding lineup of speakers from across viticulture, enology, soil science, conservation, vineyard operations, hospitality, and wine leadership.

This year’s program reflects exactly what Michigan’s grape and wine industry needs more of: practical insight, serious expertise, and forward-looking conversation grounded in both agriculture and market reality.

Confirmed speakers already include Dr. Bruno Basso, Dr. Nick Dokoozlian, Jacopo Miolo from SIMONIT&SIRCH, and a host of experienced growers, breeders, producers, and researchers from Michigan and beyond.

We want to acknowledge Traverse City Tourism for helping make this launch possible by allowing Dirt to Glass™ to piggyback on their registration system as we bridge away from Grand Traverse MSU Extension as their upgraded system is not yet ready. The support of both organizations is appreciated.

We look forward to welcoming growers, winemakers, researchers, industry partners, and hospitality professionals for the fifth annual Dirt to Glass™ conference.

Registration link coming soon!

We raise our glasses to the Finger Lakes!

Congratulations to the wine makers, vineyard crews, distributors, buyers, and everyone else involved in molding and supporting the Finger Lakes Wine Region—enabling it to be named Wine Enthusiast's 2025 American Wine Region of the Year.

This distinction is a testament to decades of hard work, innovation, and unwavering dedication to world-class, cool-climate wine making. The Finger Lakes is a true role model for and other small wine regions across the United States—proving that quality, sustainability, and collaboration are the keys to elevating a region from good wine to phenomenal wine.

The Finger Lakes, American Wine Region of the Year, Is a Hotbed of Innovation With over 140 wineries and 10,000+ acres under vine, the Finger Lakes AVA is home to herbaceous reds, vibrant whites and world-class sparklers.

Precision agriculture is revolutionizing farming in Michigan, using technology like drones and satellites to increase efficiency and profitability, but Dr. Bruno Basso from Michigan State University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources is taking it a step further with Precision Conservation.

Take a look at this article to learn how Dr. Basso is using technology to help farmers and farmland in the Midwestern Corn Belt, some of the most industrialized land in the world.

Satellites and Drones Are Unlocking Benefits ‘Hidden in Plain Sight’ in Michigan Technology is helping farmers use land and fertilizer more strategically. Sometimes, the best practice is no chemicals at all.

The Company We Keep Pairs Michigan Wines Alongside Pours from Around the World Tickets are available for the Aug. 21 tasting in Traverse City August 7, 2025 (Traverse City, MI) -- The fourth annual Dirt to Glass™ conference

We are very excited to welcome a very special guest - all the way from the Republic of Georgia - Nino Sachaleli, Ph.D! Dr. Sachaleli will be leading an informal Georgian wine tasting and talking a bit about the region's wine making during the Party on the Piazza. This is the evening networking event that follows the first day of the conference, where you can enjoy food, conversation, and now, a unique wine tasting experience! Entry is included in your conference or walk-around wine tasting ticket. Get yours here: Conference registration: https://events.anr.msu.edu/2025DirttoGlass/
Walk-around wine tasting tickets: https://events.anr.msu.edu/2025TasteMSUDifference/

Cook Fact: The Republic of Georgia is known as the "cradle of wine" due to its 8,000-year-old history of winemaking. The country boasts over 500 indigenous grape varieties and unique winemaking techniques!


Michigan State University Extension Grigol Robakidze University

We just heard back from MDARD — there will be two RUP credits available for Day One and two available for Day Two. Participants who attend both days can be credited for four credits.