Dirt to Glass

07/23/2026

One week left to preorder NEW Dirt to Glass swag! Each purchase directly supports our conference programming—from Day 1 speakers to Day 2 field visits. Wear your DTG love year-round!

Order now through 7/31 for shipping or conference pick-up.

https://www.storessimple.com/alfielogogear/groupproducts.php?prodgroup_id=42869&prodgroupbypass=true

07/16/2026

Day 1 Spotlight—
Enhancing Vineyard Sustainability through Carbon Farming Efficiency

In this session the program moves to what often separates “good intentions” from progress: measurable systems that improve efficiency and resilience. Bruno Basso, Ph.D., connects vineyard sustainability to carbon farming efficiency, helping participants think about soil and carbon not only as values, but as operational levers that can be tracked and improved.

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

07/09/2026

Elevate your conference look with our new Dirt to Glass swag! Show your support for our programming and work all year—whether you’re walking the vineyard or blending in the cellar.

Order now through 7/31 for shipping or conference pick-up.

https://www.storessimple.com/alfielogogear/groupproducts.php?prodgroup_id=42869&prodgroupbypass=true

06/23/2026

Dirt to Glass™ 2026 will begin and end with two leaders who understand what it takes to build something larger than any one organization, region, or sector.

We are honored to announce that Warren Call of Traverse Connect will deliver our opening remarks, and Dr. Doug Gage of Michigan State University will deliver our closing remarks for the fifth annual Dirt to Glass, August 20–21, 2026, in Traverse City.

Warren and Doug know each other well through their shared service on the board of the Freshwater Research and Innovation Center, a project built around collaboration, research, innovation, economic development, and long-term regional impact. That shared perspective makes them especially fitting bookends for what we believe will be a pivotal fifth year for Dirt to Glass.

Michigan’s grape and wine industry is served by many passionate people and organizations: growers, producers, researchers, educators, economic development leaders, tourism partners, trade, writers, and advocates. But the work ahead requires more than parallel effort. It requires alignment.

This year, Dirt to Glass is calling for a more unified approach to the future of Michigan wine: one that recognizes regional distinctions, supports growers, prioritizes quality, advances research, and builds a stronger statewide strategy for economic resilience.

Warren will open the conference by framing Michigan wine through the lens of regional and statewide economic development. Doug will close the day by bringing us back to research, innovation, and the discipline required to make this work matter.

Together, they will help set the tone for a conference focused not only on what Michigan wine is, but what it can become when the people serving this industry choose to move in the same direction.

Registration is still open for the fifth annual Dirt to Glass conference taking place August 20–21, 2026 in Traverse City, Michigan.

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

06/05/2026

🍇 Day 2 Field Visit Spotlight—
From Puning to the Vineyard Floor: Hands-on Management

This field session at Black Star Farms focuses on practical vineyard management strategies designed to improve efficiency, from pruning through in-season canopy and floor management.

Led by Jacopo Miolo, Jen Bremer, and Ben Bremer, attendees will get direct exposure to techniques that influence vine balance, fruit quality, and operational efficiency in commercial vineyard systems.

Demonstrations will feature equipment currently used in regional vineyards—such as the Clemens Radius, and are designed for growers and industry professionals seeking to refine their techniques, reduce operational costs, and improve fruit quality through informed, hands-on approaches grounded in real vineyard systems.

05/12/2026

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 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.

05/09/2026

🍇 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.

04/25/2026

🍇 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/

04/16/2026

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.

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, ...

04/05/2026

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!