Local wineries show Iowa pride
Photo Illustration: Abby Gilman/Iowa State Daily
Iowa wine selections. Photo Illustration: Abby Gilman/Iowa State Daily
March 23, 2011
Red or white, dry, sweet or even sparkling, the wine business in Iowa has grown tremendously in the past 10 years.
Iowa is now 16th in the nation for number of wineries, said Stewart Burger, instructor of the introduction to wine, beer and spirits class. And, since it takes several years from the first planting to bottles of wine appearing on the shelves, the trend will probably only continue.
“It’s pretty amazing, how fast the industry grew,” said Ron Mark, owner of Summerset Winery in Indianola. Summerset is one of the oldest vineyards in the state. Mark said when he founded his winery he gave a lot of seminars on grape growing, and it started to take off after that.
Grapes grown in Iowa have to be able to withstand the cold winters, so they aren’t the same varieties found in California or imported wines. They tend to be lighter and sweeter; it isn’t common to be able to make heavier, dry red wines from Iowa grapes.
However, around 70 varieties of grapes can be grown in Iowa, so not all fit the stereotype.
“We’re really trying to change the misconception that all Iowa wines have to be sweet,” said Chris Hudnall, wholesale and vineyard manager for Snus Hill Winery in Madrid.
Roger Esser, manager of Cyclone Liquors, said retailers can be a good source of information about different wines. Cyclone carries wine from 10 different vineyards in Iowa, and more than 2,500 types total.
With all those different labels on the shelf, it can be hard to know which wine to choose.
“There are lots of rules and things that people look at for wine, but the biggest thing is to try a lot and find what you want,” Burger said. “The one you enjoy is the right wine for you.”
Burger said students can find wines at every price level, for both local and imported varieties. However, he recommended attending tasting events, which are always free in Iowa, to try a lot of varieties.
The following are just a few of the close to 90 wineries in Iowa. All offer tastings, and most offer entertainment and facilities for weddings and other events. All can be purchased at Ames-area retailers.
- Website: www.prairiemoonwinery.com
- Must-try: Their Winter Moon, made from vidal blanc grapes, is the only true ice wine made in Iowa, Nissen said. An ice wine is made by waiting for the grapes to freeze solid before harvesting them. This makes a thick, concentrated syrup which results in a very sweet desert wine.
- Website: snushillwine.com
- Must-try: Their Edelweiss, a dry white wine, was voted the No. 1 wine in Iowa in 2008 and has won other awards around the country. Catnip, another white wine, is also popular.
- Website: whiteoakvineyards.com
- Must-try: Celebrate, their best-selling wine, is a semi-sweet red that uses entirely their own grapes. Epps recommends the St. Croix for a drier variety.
Jasper Winery: Des Moines
“It’s a hobby that went astray,” said Jean Groben, owner of Jasper Winery. She said a lifelong interest in gardening and cooking naturally led to wine making.
The winery was founded in Newton around 10 years ago, and they still have their 100 acres there; although they opened a facility in Des Moines three years ago. The building has a contemporary, urban feel and is suited for events, with high ceilings and large windows.
Jasper is open seven days a week for tastings, and they have events throughout the year.
- Website: jasperwinery.com
- Must-try: Le Crescent, a white wine Groben recommends. Also look out for wines made from noiret or marquette grapes, which are new varieties.
- Website: www.summersetwine.com
- Must-try: Caba Moch, a gold-medal winner, sells more than 40,000 bottles a year. Similar to a sangria, it is a very fruity wine and sweet, but also with a bit of a tang.
- Website: tasselridge.com
- Must-try: Red, White, & Blue, a sweet red wine, is their most popular. Rockets Glare Rose is a new variety which has been popular. For a drier red wine, Whittington recommended In The Dark.