Cold-Climate Research Extension Needs
Addressing Research and Extension Needs of the Emerging Cold-Climate Wine Industry in the Northeast and Upper Midwest
Background
A group of scientists from several Northeastern and Midwestern universities received funding to gather stakeholder input and support for planning a research and extension agenda for new cold-hardy cultivars released by the University of Minnesota and private breeders. The group will host two planning workshops in Vermont (November 12&13) and Minnesota (February 9&10) with representatives of state vineyard and winery associations from states in the Midwest and Northeast. The goal will be to develop a full Specialty Crops Research Initiative (SCRI) grant to support research and extension projects focused on viticulture, enology, and business management/marketing needs of cold-climate grape growers and wineries to support continued growth and sustainability of the industry across the upper Midwest and Northeast.
Invitation to Interested Growers and Researchers.
Northeast Meeting
Date: November 12, 2009
Location: Hilton, Burlington, Vermont
Time: 8:30 to 5:00 PM
Vermont Planning Meeting Summary
Midwest Meeting
Date: February 10, 2009
Location: (hotel) Bloomington, MN
Time: 8:30 to 5:00 PM
Registration form:
Preconference Survey for Producer Organizations:
The survey’s purpose is to compile basic information from State and Regional Grower and Winery Associations on acreage and membership characteristics, as well as the top three priorities (or problems you need more information on) for research and outreach in Viticulture, Winemaking, and business organization/marketing. We would like to have this information in advance of the workshop sessions (by November 1), and will compile and use it (from both the Northeast and Midwest) as a starting point for the workshop discussions in Vermont and Minnesota.
Project Summary:
Cold-climate wine grape cultivars with Vitis riparia parentage, released since the early 1990s, have created new and rapidly expanding small winery enterprises (over 250 wineries, 3,300 acres of grapes, 1300 growers) in New England, Northern NY, and the Upper Midwest (notably NE, IA, MN, and WI), with tremendous positive economic impact on rural areas. These V. riparia-based cultivars differ in their growth habits and fruit composition from less-hardy, traditional hybrids of V. vinifera and other Vitis species. Long-term viability of these new businesses and cultivars will depend upon a coordinated research effort to optimize viticultural, enological, and business management practices. The goal of this proposal is to bring research and extension scientists and stakeholders from 10 Midwestern and Northeastern states and winery associations together to outline and prioritize research and extension needs, form an industry-supported team to address them, and submit an SCRI grant in FY2010. The resulting CAP or SREP project will integrate the three SCRI focus areas of production (viticulture), distribution and processing (enology and winemaking practice), and consumers and markets, with the long-term goal of enhancing the profitability and sustainability of the emerging cold-climate winery and vineyard businesses in the upper Midwest and Northeast.