What's the big deal with Iowa wine?

OK, sorry for the cheesy Anchorman reference (who doesn’t love that movie?!), but seriously, if you haven’t noticed, Iowa wine is pretty dang awesome. Bear with me for a minute though, while we give you a little history lesson here, because Iowa’s history in winemaking has been sort of a “two steps forward, one step back” kind of thing. In the years prior to Prohibition, Iowa was the 6th largest wine producer in the nation, with commercial vineyards and wineries established in the late 1800s, even before some in California (so take that, Golden State!). Then Prohibition came along and shut down nearly all wine production. Bummer. By the time it ended in 1933, the majority of vineyards had been dug up and replanted with the state’s new dominant crop – corn. Fast-forward to the mid ‘90s, after some innovative research from the University of Minnesota and Cornell University, new cold-hardy grape varietals started to make their comeback in newly planted vineyards across the state. Winemakers were taking these new-fangled grapes and making wine out of them, some good and some...not so good, at first. Thanks to research, quality testing and sensory analysis available to vintners through the Midwest Grape and Wine Industry Institute at Iowa State University, the overall quality of wine made from these cold-climate grapes, which tend to have more fruity flavors, higher acid and less tannin than the well-known French varietals, has improved tremendously over the years. OK, so back to my original point...when we say Iowa wine is a big deal, we’re talking taking home awards at the Indy International Wine Competition, Mid-American Wine Competition, San Diego International Wine Competition and many, many more.

People may not realize that there are around 100 wineries across the state of Iowa. In fact, wine tourism in Iowa is a pretty big deal, with an economic impact of $41 million, drawing nearly 360,000 visitors to the state each year. With eight wine trails scattered across the state and various events, tastings and tours offered nearly each day of the year, it’s easy to see why people are choosing Iowa for their vacation and stay-cation plans. Stop by any one of our wineries on a weekend afternoon and you’re likely to find a crowd having a pretty good time - whether it’s lounging on the lawn listening to an outdoor musician when the weather's nice, meeting up with friends to share a bottle of wine next to the fireplace, or packing up the whole family for a picnic near the vineyard while the kids are on summer break – this unique experience provided at each winery is part of what makes Iowa wine so special.

Winery visits in Iowa are not just for the self-proclaimed “wine snobs” either, oftentimes you’ll be greeted by the winemaker or owner themselves when entering the tasting room and they’re happy to tell you all about what makes their wines unique, while pouring some tastings for you to enjoy. Most wineries are kid and pet-friendly too, although a phone call before bringing Fido would be a good idea. In fact, during this time of COVID-19, we’ve put together these helpful tips to make your winery visit successful, and safe!

Long gone are the glory days of Iowa being the 6th largest wine producer, this is true, but perhaps our future is filled with new glory that Iowa offers the number one wine experience? Maybe part of what makes Iowa wine so freaking cool is the entire experience visitors have at each of these wineries. Ah yes, with vineyards and wineries tucked away in the beautiful countryside and cities spanning from the rolling Loess Hills on the western side of the state to the Mississippi riverbanks on the east, do we dare say that Iowa wine could quite possibly be the hidden gem of our state? You decide for yourself by visiting one of the nearly 100 wineries located across the state and experience what Iowa wine is all about.

So what are you waiting for? Get out there and experience Iowa wine! We invite you to sip & stay awhile.