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Margo Sue Bittner quoted in this article: Senator Schumer Fights Against Cutting Programs That Promote NYS Wine Sales Abroad

Margo Sue Bittner, owner of The Winery at Marjim Manor, will be making a presentation at the 2009 Cornell Strategic Marketing Conference on November 2.

NWT "Hallowine" a Resounding Success - Upwards of 3000 people traveled the Niagara Wine Trail (NWT) this past weekend for its Fourth Annual Hallowine event, many in costumes ranging from Tinkerbell to Cruella DeVille.

The Winery at Marjim Manor on YouTube!

A surprise marriage proposal at the Manor.

MARJIM MANOR: Winery attracts TV show 'Ghost Hunters'

The art of wine in a vintage setting - Haunted manor inspires work on labels by moonlighting teacher.

On May 12, 2008, Governor David A. Paterson and U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer met with more than 100 farmers in Western New York to discuss issues of critical importance to New York's 36,000 farms.

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

Did you see Margo, Ghosts and Other Spirits on Channel 2?

Niagara Wineries Trail: Grapes, tastings and ghosts

SENATOR SCHUMER FIGHTS AGAINST CUTTING PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE NYS WINE SALES ABROAD

Proposed Elimination of Substitution Drawback Program
Undermines Global Competitiveness of NYS Wine Exports
Schumer also Secures Pledge to Push Canada to Remove Duties
That Discourage Virtually Any Wine Purchases by Canadians Visiting New York

The Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) have proposed changes that would repeal a program currently providing a rebate for wine producers who export NYS wine. Under the program, any federal tax or duty that an American winery pays on wine imported from another country is refunded when that same entity exports American-made wine of roughly the same value. This incentive program is known as “substitution drawback” because wineries are “substituting” a US-produced bottle of wine for an imported bottle of wine.

The CBP and TTB have proposed eliminating this program which Schumer said will greatly hurt New York wineries, an important source of economic activity in many parts of upstate and on Long Island. Schumer has asked Treasury and DHS, the federal parent agencies of CBP and TTB, to withdraw these proposals.

Another issue having a huge negative impact on New York’s wine industry: New York wineries are faced with an overwhelming disadvantage when Canadian tourists come to our wineries. Canada’s border tax policies ensure that virtually no Canadian tourists will want to buy NY wine. Specifically, Canadian day trippers are hit with duties and taxes of 80-100 percent of the cost of the bottle of NY wine. The result -- Canadian tourists visit NY wineries and enjoy tasting NY wines, but they never buy. The US does not impose the same onerous taxes on its returning tourists — US tourists returning from Canada are entitled to bring in 2 bottles of Canadian wine duty free.

Schumer urged United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk to raise the issue with his foreign counterparts to ensure a fair shake for New York’s wineries. Kirk pledged to raise the issue with Canada. “Removing the duty that Canada places on its citizens will help fuel explosive growth in the New York industry and I will pursue this until it is done,” said Schumer.

“We appreciate Senator Schumer’s dedication to the agricultural industry,” said Margo Bittner, owner of The Winery at Marjim Manor in Appleton, NY. “As a winery owner close to the Canadian border, this is an issue I deal with regularly. We frequently have Canadian tourists who do not purchase wine because of the onerous duty. I am participating in Bi-National Tourism’s Open Doors Niagara. While people interested in architecture and history will visit, purchases are negligible. Other businesses participating anticipate wonderful sales. I look forward to the day when we have parity and can partner, not compete, with wineries across the border.”

The state’s wine industry has proved to be one of New York’s most resilient. This industry has a particularly powerful impact on New York’s rural economy by increasing tourism at a rate of 4.1 million people annually and adding a $6B boost to the state’s economy every year. Overall, the industry directly employs 36,000 people in New York.

Margo Sue Bittner, owner of The Winery at Marjim Manor, has been invited to the 2009 Cornell Strategic Marketing Conference to be held at the Henry A Wallace Visitor & education Center in Hyde Park, NY on November 2nd and 3rd.

Appropriately, the conference theme this year is Story Telling—Marketing the Unique Story of Your Business for Success, and will feature successful producers, processors, and other agri-businesses showcasing their unique business story, the ways they use it as a marketing tool, and methods to utilize and evaluate the success of various marketing activities.

The 75 conference attendees are small- to medium-size agricultural producers and food processors, educators, state agencies, economic development specialists, and agri-service providers from around the Northeast. The ultimate goal is to provide productive marketing information and tools for the region’s agri-based businesses.

On Day One of the two-day conference, Ms Bittner will be presenting Once Upon a Time . . . Building & Telling Your Story along with Jeanine Laverty, a professional Story Teller from Saratoga Springs, NY. For those who have visited The Winery at Marjim Manor, it is well-known that story telling is a significant draw. The quality of her wine selections and attention to service account for her overall success however, based on repeat business. And the chief ingredients for her wines come almost exclusively from locally-grown produce. Ms Laverty will focus on how to think about story telling when developing a business plan. Both presenters have been asked to feature key practices or skills critical to successful marketing.

NWT "Hallowine" a Resounding Success - Upwards of three thousand people traveled the Niagara Wine Trail (NWT) this past weekend for its Fourth Annual Hallowine event, many in costumes ranging from Tinkerbell to Cruella DeVille. A few unsuspecting tourists enquired what all the “fuss” was about.

The record-setting event featured the Wine Trail’s signature Murder Mystery, this year written by Marjim Manor’s Margo Sue Bittner. Ms Bittner also serves as the NWT Events Chairperson. There was one murder suspect at each winery and guests were given clues as they travelled the Trail. Prizes are awarded at random from among the correct answers.

So, whodunit? The answer to this question can be found on the Niagara WIne Trail website.

The next NWT event, “Holiday Happening”, is scheduled for the first two weekends in December. As always, guests pay for the whole event at the first winery they visit, and for this event they receive a Christmas tree ornament at each participating winery they visit.

NWT is planning another Murder Mystery this coming March and reports that next year’s Hallowine event will probably cover two weekends. Guests pay only at the first winery and receive a commemorative wine glass as a gift.

The Winery at Marjim Manor on YouTube! You can watch our commercial... and if you missed our Ghost Hunters episode, you can watch it again here!

Marjim Manor 2008 commercial

Stay tuned for our newest commercial!

Sorry - Ghost Hunters episodes are no longer available.

A surprise marriage propsal at the Manor! We received this recent email: "A group of us were at your winery last weekend (12/6/08) where my friend Julie's boyfriend, Brian, proposed to her. The girl who did our tastings was very nice and helped in the planning of the proposal."
We were glad to help! Congratulations!

September 2008: The Winery at Marjim Manor has enough ghost stories to pique the curiosity of any paranormal enthusiast — and now it’s receiving national attention.

Read the complete article in the
Lockport Union Sun & Journal.

Our own Krista Beth Feltz was featured in this article in the Buffalo News on August 10, 2008.

Read the complete article in the
Buffalo News.

November 2007: Margo Sue Bittner, owner of the Winery at Marjim Manor has been appointed to the New York State Wine Grape Task Force.

Read the complete article in the
Lockport Union Sun & Journal.

Did you see Margo, Ghosts and Other Spirits on Channel 2?
On October 30, 2007 Margo appeared on Today in WNY. The show premiered a video about the Winery at Marjim Manor by Rich Kellman, Senior Correspondent.
You can read about it here.

Niagara Wineries Trail: Grapes, tastings and ghosts
USA Today article by LARRY PRICE Associated Press Writer, September 4 2007

APPLETON, N.Y. Standing behind the long wooden bar in one of two elegant tasting rooms at The Winery at Marjim Manor, Margo Sue Bittner proudly shows off her 28 wines. The complete article can be viewed here.

July 2007: Taster Michael Guo posted the following critique of his visit on the Internet ... thanks Michael...

Photo: "I'll take one of each!"
Photo credit: Michael Guo

The Winery at Marjim Manor unexpectedly became our first stop after we couldn't find Vizcarra Vineyards, and we pulled up to the building wondering what our first Niagara County winery experience would be like. Thank God it was this one.

To read the complete article go to Michael Guo's blog
Days That End in Y.