Opportunities and Challenges in Grape Production
Opportunities and Challenges in Grape Production Bruce Bordelon Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture Opportunities • Well established grape and wine industry – Over 100 wineries in Illinois – Over 1,000 acres of wine grapes – Grower associations and State organizations – Two American Viticulture Areas (AVAs) • Many well-adapted varieties • Excellent integrated pest management tools • Reasonable prices/profitability • Interest in “Local Foods” (authenticity) Wine Industry Vineyards and Wineries in Illinois. A status and economic contribution report. Northern Grapes Project. Brigid Tuck and William Gartner, University of Minnesota. 2014 Illinois Wineries and Vineyards. Dennis Hoffman. Illinois Department of Employment Security, Economic Information and Analysis Division. October 2013 Market Demand for Grapes Vineyards and Wineries in Illinois. A status and economic contribution report. Northern Grapes Project. Brigid Tuck and William Gartner, University of Minnesota. 2014 Established grape industry • Main varieties: – Chambourcin, Seyval, Vignoles, Vidal, Chardonel, Norton – Traminette, Noiret, Cayuga white, etc. • Many new “Super Cold Hardy” options: – Marquette, La Crescent, Brianna, Petite Pearl, Crimson Pearl, Itasca, etc. Grower and State Organizations • Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Alliance: www.illinoiswine.com • Northern Illinois Wine Growers: www.niwg.org • Wine Trails (8) – Northern Illinois, Illinois River, East Central Illinois, Mississippi Valley, Wabash Valley, Heartland Rivers, Southern Illinois, Shawnee
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