Growing Grapes for Wineries
No Sour Grapes: Overcoming the possibilities of creating a wine industry in Nevada
Halbardier of Tahoe Ridge Winery, located on the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada now produces 13 varieties of wine and 150,000 bottles a year. But the start of the winery, located in 4700 meters and can see temperatures as low as at least 25 degrees in winter, was difficult. He decided to grow grapes on a whim after moving to Reno from Sacramento. No I just do not know anything about the company, but do not let that phase you never been done successfully in Nevada. In the first eight years, planted all the vines had the same result: 70% of the grapes have died during the winter. "I was almost to the point where it was, 'OK, we gave him a chance," he recalls. "I lost a lot of money."
The Halbardier breakthrough came when she learned on a vine cold resistant varieties are being developed at the University of Minnesota. In 2000, he planted about 500 vines with the seeds of the university. At harvest, Halbardier was surprised to discover that almost all grapes have survived the cold desert nights. "We were surprised. It was' Holy Guacamole! "We are totally surprised." This year, Tahoe Ridge Winery produces the first commercial wine made from grapes grown in Nevada. The 466 bottles of Chardonnay are sold two weeks. In 2002, Tahoe Ridge made its first red wine, Limberger, and the following year to open a tasting room and market Genoa 42 miles of Reno. On a cold winter morning last December, Halbardier had another first: the crops of winter ice wine growing product in the Western Mountains Rockies.
Although Halbardier found success, is more aware than ever of the long and arduous journey that took to get there. "Where we are today is very different from where we started. Do not forget our roots. "He likes to remind his employees that the producer started with two barrels of wine and now produces 700 year. From Field to Table, another dream harvested.
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Written by: melissasiig (for uwemp.com)
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