TRAVERSE CITY -- One local vintner is at the mercy of Mother Nature not only for his grape crop, but also for getting it from the vine into the bottle.
John Wyman's Victoria Creek Vineyards in Leelanau County is the lone winery in the state that's "off the grid," meaning he doesn't use utility-generated power. All Wyman's energy is self-manufactured and comes from geothermal, wind and solar power.
Wyman planted grapes hillside at his Centerville Township property nearly a decade ago, and his intent was to farm and sell grapes to local wineries.
But making wine has become increasingly more compelling over the years.
In the winter of 2004 Wyman began converting half of his barn into a winery with little more than a shoestring budget, "a lot of ambition and a little desperation."
He built his business with the idea that all of his wine would be made from grapes grown on the property. Along the way he decided to make wine with an assist from wind and solar power.
Technological advances, combined with rising fuel costs, will help make self-generated electricity become more commonplace, he believes.
"The people living and working off the grid are really showing us the way of the future, and a way out of a lot of problems," he said.
Bill Queen, program coordinator for Northwestern Michigan College's Extended Education and a passionate advocate of renewable energy and green building, agrees.
"In this day and age, I think it's a good business model," said Queen. "He'll see economic benefits and people will be looking for that green label."
Living and functioning off the grid can be relatively simple, but it also requires an entirely different approach to living and working.
"When you are making your own electricity you consider how many amps your equipment will draw and how much solar and wind you have available," Wyman said. "These things are considered before anything is turned on. If your batteries are depleted, you can't function until the wind blows or the sun shines. With solar and wind power Ohm's law is your bible."
Wyman not only relies on the weather to generate his energy, but also takes advantage of gravity and natural heating and cooling. The winery is heated with water that is warmed from wind, solar, and wood circulated through the floor.
In the summer, cold well water is circulated through the floor and sent out to irrigate the vineyards.
"I get air conditioning and irrigation at the same time," said Wyman, who acknowledges his lifestyle also presents challenges.
There are times when he has to wait for the sun to shine or the wind to blow to pump or press, and even when he does have power it may not be enough to do several tasks at once.
Then there are unforeseen problems, such as equipment malfunctions or disappearances.
Just after the harvest last fall Wyman's solar panels were stolen, leaving him with two tons of grapes to press and no power to do so.
"I literally cried. Then, by some miracle, the wind started to blow. I pressed in the pouring rain for three days and stayed up all night pumping and doing lab work by candlelight. I was able to finish the last of the '07 Wooden Boat (wine) on total wind power with just one small turbine."
Wyman is building his own wind turbines, has plans for several more and will be expanding his solar capacity. He also plans to start building a tasting room that also will be off the grid.
For more information, visit his Web site at www.victoriacreek.net.
