FRANKFORT, Ky. — While grape producers are looking at a less than banner year thanks to a hard winter, the vineyard and wine industry in Kentucky is still enjoying growth, with room for more.
Tyler Madison, director of the grape and wine program at the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA), said while the number of wineries is still on the increase, the number of vineyards which only produce the grapes has been stagnant.
"The number of wineries keeps going up and the number of growers is kind of remaining about the same, so we’re really hoping in the next couple of years to see more growers come in to supply the wineries," he said.
Madison added most wineries have vineyards but for those producers trying to create wines from Kentucky fruit, there is not necessarily enough grapes to go around. "The wineries that are really making an attempt to use Kentucky fruit are having to source fruit from elsewhere in conjunction with their own fruit. I think that is going to keep happening because there doesn’t seem to be any stopping the number of wineries coming on board; we just need more growers."
Figuring out how to make that happen is something Madison is working on as part of his job in promoting the grape and wine industry, in a state known more for bourbon when it comes to spirits. But even in the midst an expanding bourbon market, the United States now leads the world in wine consumption, according to information from Impact Databank, an industry information report.
The Kentucky vineyard and winery industry has grown exponentially over the last decade. But a trip back in time shows the state was home to the first commercial vineyard, established in the late 18th century overlooking the Kentucky River in Jessamine County. According to information from the KDA, prior to Prohibition Kentucky was the third-largest grape and wine production state.
Growing grapes isn’t easy, and it really isn’t easy in this state. The tough 2014 winter is a testament to that – leaving some varieties of grapes decimated and wineries that wanted local grapes short in supply. This need for local grapes comes as the movement toward local foods grows and is becoming popular not only in Kentucky but across the country.
Madison said Texas is in a similar situation, in that the winery industry has grown greatly as has the desire from consumers to buy locally made wines.
"Wine is a unique product and is so specific to the region, that people who are serious about wine really want the wine they are drinking to be from within that region," he explained.
"As we become more serious as a wine region and the consumers become more educated, I think it only makes sense that the wineries are going to want to use more and more Kentucky fruit because of the legitimacy of it being a Kentucky product."
The effort Kentucky wineries are making to use more state fruit is something Madison thinks will continue to grow; all the more reason to have more growers. "The grapes we grow and the flavors produced from those grapes are going to be unique to Kentucky," he said.
Those flavors are helping local wineries win recognition not only at state competitions but in international contests across the country.
In order to get more growers, Madison said educating the public through media campaigns is being looked at, including a video project focusing on five grapes popular here with growers. The videos feature people smelling and tasting the wines, then describing their experience. The project is called "Get to Know Your Grapes."
Madison is hoping projects like this will help open consumers’ eyes to the fact there is a difference between a wine made from Kentucky fruit and one made from grapes grown elsewhere.
"We’re hoping this sort of rolls into the consumers requesting Kentucky fruit. At that point you’re going to have potential growers know what the wineries want, and hopefully encourage more people to see there is a market to grow fruit and supply local wineries," he said.
Currently Kentucky has more than 113 grape producers growing 583 acres of grapes, along with more than 60 small farm wineries.
