Wine production in the Leelanau and Grand Traverse region is one of the bright spots in the agricultural picture, and some experts say it's just the beginning.

This story in the Record-Eagle cites state officials and local growers who say that there is both the market and the capacity to allow a major expansion of wine-growing in our area.

That's a good thing. The spread of vineyards in Leelanau County can help preserve agriculture and our rural landscape; and the scenic and other advantages of our area make it a natural for the growth of the kind of agricultural tourism that has been so successful in Napa and Sonoma in California, among many other locales. Let's hope that state and local officials continue to find ways to facilitate the growth of vineyards here.