Nov 2, 2011U of M researchers join effort to help cold-climate wine industry thrive
Wine grapes can be grown in cold climates; that’s been established since the University of Minnesota began releasing cold-hardy varieties in the 1970s. But how can the wine industry in the Upper Midwest and Northeast take the next steps toward economic viability?
That’s the focus of a new $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture Specialty Crop Research Initiative. Researchers from the University of Minnesota are part of a multi-state team tackling obstacles in vineyards, wineries, tasting rooms and tourism to bring cold-hardy grapes to a wider market.
The challenges ahead include determining the best growing conditions; how to modify the grapes’ higher acidity and showcase their aroma; and how to build tourism networks to draw visitors to tasting rooms, where a majority of sales take place. Hutchinson Leader
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