Nevada's Wine Industry
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
NevadaSpirit Celebrating Nevada’s Businesses Nevada Stories: Business Minutes American AVK Relocates to Minden, Nevada Nevada Marketplace High Desert Dreams Nevada’s Wine Industry A Letter from Lt. Governor Brian K. Krolicki We are fortunate to live in a state with a high quality of life, abundant natural resources and a strong economy. As Nevada’s economy continued to expand and diversify in 2007, there were ample opportunities for growth and development available for many of Nevada’s business owners. Indeed, 2007 was an outstanding year for the companies that call Nevada home. Currently, the businesses that make and sell products in Nevada are the most diverse in the history of our state. As Lieutenant Governor and Chairman of the Nevada Commission on Economic Development, I am proud of the care and attention to quality that Nevada businesses devote to their products. As these products enter the global marketplace, people from all over the world can now have an opportunity to enjoy them as well. This issue of Nevada Spirit Magazine includes the Made in Nevada holiday gift catalog, which features many of the Nevada businesses that work hard to ensure our economy remains robust. As you shop for gifts this holiday season, I encourage you to look for the Made in Nevada brand. Warmest holiday wishes, Brian K. Krolicki Lieutenant Governor By Carol Infranca Pioneers in Nevada’s winemaking industry have been quietly determining the best grapes for the state’s regional climates. They were involved in research for years before the first vines were planted. Now they’re producing award-winning wines. Churchill Vineyards Fallon, wine tasting day trips. miles south of Fallon en route to NV is famous for its heart-of-gold They’re not there yet – but they’ve Churchill Vineyards, you’ll see the melons and its renowned alfalfa. come a long way since the year 2000, “old” vineyard on the right. Churchill Vineyard’s goal is to make when they first thought about planting The Frey’s call the colonial- it legendary for wine, too. some grapes on their 738-acre alfalfa style Douglas Mansion built by Charlie Frey and his family, and wheat farm. Nevada’s State Architect Frederick owners of the 13.5-acre Churchill You might question the ability of DeLongchamps in 1918 home. Vineyards estate winery, actually northern Nevada vineyards to produce One look at it and you’ll see where have multiple goals. They hope to great wine, but conditions are nearly they got the idea to grow grapes help the agricultural economy in the perfect for grapes with Churchill for wine. region by providing growers with County’s hot days and cool nights. Charles Frey Sr. purchased an alternative crop that uses less “It’s great for the sugar content in the farm in 1944. It is in one water and their ultimate goal is to the grapes,” says Debbie Frey. of Nevada’s oldest historic eventually create a tourist attraction When you drive down the mile long agricultural areas. Concord grapes to lure Reno residents for Napa-style tree-lined road off Highway 95, seven were planted near the original Douglas Mansion Frey Sr. bought. Now those two grape vines are 65-years-old and they produced more than 40 gallons of juice this year. When the Frey’s first considered growing grapes, they did a lot of research and got help from the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. The university had been growing grapes in Reno for some time and had a good idea about what type of grapes would do well in Fallon. Grape vines take years to mature and produce grapes for wine. Those years have been a learning process for the Frey family. One of the first things they learned is the grapes utilize only 10 percent of the water Frey’s other crops use. “We have four white grape varieties that are doing really well,” Debbie Frey explains. “White Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Semillon and Chardonnay.” The red grape vines are taking longer to mature but the ones that are working for the Frey’s are: Merlot, Pinot Noir and Lemberger. The family got their grape vines from eastern Washington, a celebrated wine-producing region, because of the similarity in climates. The Frey family harvests the grapes, crushes them, produces the wine and bottles it for sale. Priced between $12 and $20, the 7,000 bottles of wine sell out quickly. “Because our reds aren’t ready yet, we buy grapes from California to provide red wine for our customers,” Colby Frey explains. “We have to say the grapes to produce the red wines are from California.” Colby says Churchill Vineyards is the first licensed winery in Churchill County and it has the only distillery license in the entire state. Churchill Vineyards proudly produces brandy and vodka too, but it’s not for sale quite yet. They’ve made brandy out of some hybrid grapes that combine European wine grapes and easy-to-grow American grapes. They’ve made vodka out of apples and cantaloupe. “Anything with alcohol can be distilled,” Colby explains. “We’ve even made cantaloupe brandy.” The Frey’s say they aren’t big enough for regular wine tours or open tasting rooms so far, but interested folks can call 775-423-4000 and set up a private tour. Visit Made in Nevada member Churchill Vineyards at www.churchillvineyards.com and purchase wine on line, or call first and drive out to 1045 Dodge Lane, 7 miles south of Fallon, off Highway 95 and save shipping costs. 456 bottles of wine, Rick and Kathy Halbardier, which retailed for $35 per founding owners of Tahoe bottle. They sold out in Ridge, began their research into approximately grape growing in 1990 (67 years three weeks. after the repeal of Prohibition In 2005 the in 1933) and planted their first Halbardiers moved their vineyard in 1991. entire Tahoe Ridge wine They worked with experts production operation to from the University of Nevada Minden, Nevada. They and the Desert Research Institute Rick Halbardier now produce 8,000 in northern Nevada. They got cases or 100,000 bottles Tahoe Ridge founding owner advice from experts at Cornell of wine each year. They are currently aging University in New York and from wine in more than 500 French and American the University of Minnesota. They planted a variety oak barrels. of different vines in different areas to determine which Tahoe Ridge sources grapes from four commercial ones grow comfortably in northern Nevada conditions growers in Nevada and five growers in California. and climates. They process more than 100 tons of grapes each year. Ten years and 10,000 vines later, in the fall of In 2003, Tahoe Ridge opened its Marketplace and 2001 the Halbardiers harvested and processed the Tasting Room in downtown Genoa on a cold, blustery first commercial Chardonnay wine-grapes from the day filled with on and off snow showers. More than 400 Gardotti Vineyard in Gardnerville, NV. It was the loyal Tahoe Ridge followers showed up to support the first commercial wine made from 100% Nevada grown grand opening of the first Winery Tasting Room ever grapes, in the history of the state. They produced opened in the history of northern Nevada. While Tahoe Ridge has numerous wine awards, Halbardier says he “doesn’t get hung up on them.” According to the winemaker, “We’re driven by the fact we sell out of our entire wine production each year. We wouldn’t be growing at the rate we’re growing if people didn’t like our wines.” The Tahoe Ridge Tasting Room and Marketplace, Deli/Meat Shop and gardens where their summer concert series are staged, are at 2285 Main Street in Genoa. Soon construction will begin on the new Tahoe Ridge at the historic Van Sickle Station Ranch (established in 1851) that will give the winery a whole new look. Located just about a mile away from its current Genoa location, total build out on the 25- acre, $25 million Tahoe Ridge project will be complete in 2018. The new Tahoe Ridge will include the winery production facility, the tasting room, gift shop and deli meat shop, estate vineyards, artisan/crafters village, guest cottages, a museum; herb, vegetable and perennial gardens and a culinary cooking school. Visit Made in Nevada member Tahoe Ridge Winery at www.tahoeridgewinery.com for Marketplace hours and events. Bill Loken is convinced Pahrump Valley locals Stomp, enjoy concerts or dance figured someone was either under the stars. crazy or brilliant, creating a Grapes planted at the winery in the Mojave Desert. vineyards started to yield in The community has since 2005. The Winery received 51 decided it was the latter but national wine awards for their Loken, who purchased the products in 2007 alone. Pahrump Valley Winery in “We face the same 2004, encourages you to decide challenges everybody does,” for yourself. Loken explains. “It’s a little He invites you to sip their like threading a needle to find award-winning wines in the out which varietals are going tasting room, stroll through to do well in the climate and the tranquil rose garden with the soil conditions.” its gazebo, enjoy live jazz on They’ve figured out just how the outdoor stage or dine in the that needle is threaded and they’re producing impressive upscale gourmet restaurant, Symphony’s. If you time wines. They’ve formed partnerships with grape growers in your visit right, you can also experience a Grape California and Oregon too. “We’re producing 10,000 cases or 120,000 bottles of wine per year,” Loken says.