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RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT Midwest Grape & Wine Industry Institute Research focuses on cold-hardy grape cultivars By Ted Rieger, senior feature editor valuating cold-hardy cul - tivars in vineyard trials, identifying quality wine char- acteristics of these cultivars, and providing analytical services for the Iowa wine industry are major goals of viticulture and enology research and extension at Iowa State Uni- versity (ISU) in Ames, Iowa. ISU is home to the Midwest Grape and Wine Industry Institute (MGWII), which includes faculty from the Department of Horticulture and the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition. The MGWII was established in 2006 as a cooperative effort by ISU Extension and the Iowa Wine Growers Association (IWGA). Iowa wine sales are taxed at a rate of $1.75 per gallon, with 5% of this revenue designated to fund the institute. MCWII is also supported by ISU Extension, federal research grants, IWGA and regional winery associations. Dr. Murli Dharmadhikari, direc- tor of the MGWII, came to ISU in 2005 as the extension enologist in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition. He previ- ously provided enology research WWW.VWM-ONLINE.COM and extension at Southwest Mis- souri State University. He has also worked in the commercial sector, helping to establish wineries in Ohio and Indiana. Although ISU does not have specific academic programs for viticulture and enology, the MGWII has partnered with two community colleges – Des Moines Area Com- munity College and Kirkwood Com- munity College in Cedar Rapids – to develop and offer certificate pro- grams in viticulture and enology. IOWA'S WINE INDUSTRY In the early 20th century, prior to Prohibition, Iowa was the sixth- largest grape production state in the United States. A modern resur- gence in Iowa grape and wine pro- duction began in the 1990s, and the state's wine industry has grown significantly in less than 15 years. Today it is home to more than 90 bonded wineries and 1,200 bearing acres of vineyards. The Iowa Wine Industry Eco- nomic Impact Study, conducted by MKF Research of St. Helena, Calif., for 2008, calculated the value of statewide vineyard and wine pro- duction and sales activities at $234 million. The industry accounted for 1,773 jobs and $50 million in wages. Wine production in 2008 reached a total of 187,000 gallons and retail sales totaled $7.6 million. In 2008, there were 74 licensed wineries and approximately 1,000 acres of vineyards. Most Iowa AT A GLANCE The Midwest Grape and Wine Industry Institute was established to perform research and provide extension services for the Iowa wine industry. MGWII's research focus is on vineyard field trials and quality wine production with cold-hardy cultivars. Cultivars that produce aromatic white wines and sparkling wines offer good promise in Iowa. The MGWII and the Iowa Wine Growers Association plan to launch an Iowa Vintners Quality Alliance certification program. NOV - DEC 2011 VINEYARD & WINERY MANAGEMENT 53