Daily Iowan

Issue date: 7/21/08 Section: Metro

---

Click here to view photo slideshow (opens in new window)

---

Iowa's burgeoning wine industry is just as dependent on hybrids as the booming corn industry that envelops it.

Because of the state's relatively cold climate, Iowa wineries require a specifically bred "cold, hardy" grapes.

And while the grapes produce a different taste, West Branch winery owner Melody Wallace said, visitors from California are always "pleasantly surprised." She and her family own and operate Wallace Winery, the southern-most winery in the eastern Iowa wine trail.

"It's a seven-day-a-week job," Wallace said. "Especially because [our family] does all the work."

Wallace is one of many wineries in Iowa's burgeoning wine industry, one that has erupted in the past several years and put Iowa on national wine map. In her tasting room, Wallace has met visitors from as far away as Alaska and Hawaii.

Before 2000, the number of Iowa wineries was stagnant at 13, most of which were in the Amana Colonies. Because of interest from growers, that number has grown to 71 licensed wineries across the state and 20 others that are currently in planning stages or under construction.

The state began having meetings with serious grape growers and winemakers in 2002 to make plans for expanding the state wine industry.

"We didn't have any concept of the interest when we started," said state horticulturist Mike Bevins. "Our original goal was to have 15 new wineries by 2010, but we have well exceeded that."

Iowa now ranks 14th in the country in wine production in gallons - 267,000 in 2007 - well above its previous 2000 rank, which Bevins said was in the low 40s.

Scott Ervin, the owner of Sutliff Cider Co. in Lisbon, Iowa, is just wrapping up construction of a new tasting room in a renovated barn that dates back to at least 1892.

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools