Published: November 23, 2007 10:49 pm      

BUSINESS: Wine industry has local representation on state task force

New York state will have a watchful eye on the wine industry.

Margo Sue Bittner, owner of the Winery at Marjim Manor in Appleton on the Niagara Wine Trail, has been appointed to the New York State Wine Grape Task Force.

The task force will be charged with examining any needs or problems facing the wine industry and enhance the state’s wine industry as a whole. The group will also look at regulatory measures necessary to enhance the value of the wine industry. The goal is to double the net income of the industry in five years.

The group’s first meeting took place Nov. 20 in Albany, and Bittner believes it got off to a great start.

“It was wonderful. It is a great group,” she said. “The reason for putting this group together is to make New York more agriculture business friendly.” Bittner’s winery, billed as a W.O.W., or Woman Owned Winery, is located at 7171 E. Lake Road, Appleton.

Also on the task force is Mike VonHeckler of Warm Lake Estate Vineyard and Winery, 3868 Lower Mountain Road, Cambria.

The agriculture business is one of the state’s top industries, and task force members represent the industry through a wide background of ideas and concerns. The group was broken down into major issue areas: legislative, marketing, regulations, economic development and environmental issues.

Bittner said the group will research information about each of the issues. Her areas are marketing and legislative issues.

“It was a nice cross section of all kinds of people,” she said, adding the issues of concern vary for different task force members. The experience and knowledge of the group was why the task force was formed in the first place.

“Grape growers in New York are not only adding value to a commodity, they are adding value to this state,” said state agriculture commissioner Patrick Hooker. “By providing jobs, maintaining scenic vistas, enhancing tourism and generating revenue, the wine industry is an important sector to examine, learn from and assist further if possible,” he said.

Hooker appointed 15 leaders from the state’s wine grape industry to the task force. Kareem Massoud of Paumonok Vineyards on Long Island will serve as the chairperson. In addition to Massoud, Bittner and VonHeckler, members include: Jim Bedient of the New York State Wine Grape Growers Inc.; David Bova of Millbrook Winery; Jim Finkle of Constellation Wines; Joe Gergela of the Long Island Farm Bureau; Frederick Johnson of Johnson Estate Winery; Robert Kern of Martha Clara Vineyards; John Martini of Anthony Road Wine Company; and Scott Osborn of Fox Run Vineyards.

Other members are Larry Perrine of Channing Daughters Winery, Gene Pierce of Glenora Wine Cellars, Julie Suarez of New York Farm Bureau and Jim Trezise of the New York Wine and Grape Foundation and

New York state’s wine, grapes and grape juice industries have a $3.3 billion economic impact each year, and support 36,000 jobs. There are nearly 250 wineries in the state. New York winery sales account for $420 million a year and more than 4 million tourists visit wineries annually.