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20 WINES&VINES December 2017 WINE INDUSTRY NEWS Boock has worked for the company for 19 years in nearly every capacity. Former production winemaker Travis Proctor is now the director of winemaking operations, and Andy McVay is the new winemaker for Dobbes Family Estate as well as the custom winemaking operation Dundee Vintners. Wine by Joe/Dobbes Estate Wine has been part of the Bacchus Capital Management portfolio of wine companies since 2011. Oregon winemaker dies Patricia Green, former winemaker at Torii Mor Winery and founder of Patricia Green Cellars in Newberg, Ore., died Nov. 6 at age 62. Green helped launch Torii Mor Winery in 1993 after working at Adelsheim Vineyard, and she founded Patricia Green Cellars in 2000 with business part- ner and fellow winemaker Jim Anderson. CENTRAL Michigan wine impact at $5.4 billion The Michigan wine industry has a $5.4 billion economic impact, according to a study commis- sioned by the Michigan Grape & Wine Industry Council. The study, conducted by John Dunham & Associates, says the state's wine industry generated $426 million in state and local taxes and supports 28,000 jobs paying $773 million in direct wages. The study found 83 new winer- ies have opened since 2007, and most plan to expand production in 2018. The Wines Vines Analytics winery database counts 172 wineries in Michigan, while the Michigan Grape & Wine Industry Council recognizes 132 for primarily using Michigan grapes and fruit to produce wine. The study also found wine grape acreage has also increased, with 3,050 acres currently planted to wine grapes statewide. The full economic im- pact report, executive summary documents and supporting infographics can be downloaded at michiganwines.com/economic-impact. Purdue ag startup wins grant According to a news release from Purdue University, VinSense LLC, which uses technol- ogy licensed from the school, was selected to receive a two-year Small Business Innovation Research grant worth $514,295. David Ebert, VinSense's chief technology officer, said the funding will be used during the first year to de- velop more robust automated technology that will allow wine grape growers to better under- stand their vineyards, develop higher precision growing plans and produce higher quality wine. The company is planning to expand throughout the West Coast in the coming year. EAST Constellation invests in Canadian cannabis Constellation Brands is making a $245 million (Ca- nadian) investment in the Ontario-based cannabis company Canopy Growth Corp. The investment represents a 10% equity share in the Canadian company that produces dried, oil and capsule medicinal cannabis products and manages a 500,000-square-foot greenhouse production facil- ity. According to a statement by Constellation, the deal reflects the company's "long-term strategy to identify, meet and stay ahead of evolving con- sumer trends and market dynamics, while main- taining focus on its core total beverage alcohol business." The company added it "has no plans to sell any cannabis products in the U.S. or any other market unless or until it is legally permissible to do so at all government levels." Brock to explore mediated reality Brock University's Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute in St. Catharines, Ontario, announced it will receive nearly $1 million (Ca- nadian) in funds to construct a first-of-its-kind mediated-reality wine laboratory. The grant, funded by the Canada Foundation for Innova- tion, will recreate sensory details to help re- searchers study factors that impact consumer behavior and, in turn, help the wine industry in marketing to consumers. The institute de-