Lincoln (Neb.) - April 10, 2001 - Will Nebraska be the next Napa Valley?
That's a question that will be addressed April 18 in a Paul A. Olson Seminar in Great Plains Studies at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. From 3:30 to 5 p.m., Paul Read, professor of viticulture in the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at UNL, and Ed Swanson, co-owner of Cuthills Vineyards, will discuss Nebraska's grape and wine industry at the Great Plains Art Collection in the Christlieb Gallery, Hewit Place, 1155 Q St.
As a result of the passage of the Nebraska Farm Wineries Act in the mid-1980s, a small but rapidly developing industry is emerging. Until Cuthills Vineyards opened its winery near Pierce in December 1994, there were fewer than 10 acres of commercial grapes and no wineries in Nebraska. Now, there are four wineries and more than 200 acres of commercial grapes in the state. More acreage and additional wineries are contemplated in the next few years.
Information will be presented about research being done under Read's direction at UNL. Results will also be discussed on the practical and potentially profitable studies being done on commercial vineyards such as Cuthills, James Arthur Vineyards near Raymond, Lover's Leap at Crawford and Blue Valley Vineyards near Crete.
The seminar and a reception following that will feature Nebraska's
finest wines is free and open to the public, but no one under 21 years
old will be admitted to the reception.
For questions regarding these releases, contact:
tsimons1@unl.edu
(402) 472-8514, Fax: (402) 472-7825