Michigan wineries awarded US$50 million in legal dispute

A group of wineries on the Old Mission Peninsula in Michigan have won a pay-out of nearly US$50 million after a five-year legal battle that restricted their ability to develop their tourism offer. 

A vineyard on the Old Mission Peninsula outside Traverse City, Michigan, Picture Credit:RiverNorthPhotography (from istock)The eleven-strong coalition of wineries brought the case in against the local government in 2020, claiming that the Peninsula Township was unlawfully restricted their ability to do business. They said they were prohibited from hosting a range of events, including weddings, and were not able to serve full meals in their tasting rooms or sell branded merchandise.