Recipient Organization
VOX VINEYARDS, INC.
19310 NW FARLEY HAMPTON R
KANSAS CITY,MO 64153
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Vox Vineyards, Inc., located in the Loess Hills of Platte County, Missouri grows approximately40 different grape varieties. Nearly all of these varieties were originally discovered as wild specimens in the United States, or were bred from native North American grapes during the last half of the 19th Century. Rarely grown on a commercial scale, they represent the unique genetic heritage of the Midwest, and as a collection recall the pioneering work of American botanists, plant breeders, and viticulturists. In many cases, these grapes have excellent disease resistance and require less water to produce than European varieties.Founded in 1996, Vox currently has more than six acres of productive vines, and recently launched commercial processing and sale of their unique wines. Sales are made direct from the winery and through local retailers and restaurants. Vox's Norton, Hidalgo, Lenoir and Albania varietals have won awards in regional competitions and have been received favorably by regional sommeliers. Vox's founder Jerry Eisterhold has presented on the challenges of marketing rare varieties to the American Society of Wine Economists, and has been invited to present on the legacy of Midwestern viticulture at the Smithsonian in spring 2017.Successful commercialization of wines made from rare varieties requires being able to reliably grow, vinify and market wines from grape cultivars on which very little authoritative research has, so far, been conducted. This Phase I SBIR Application will verify the feasibility of growing American Heritage grapes and processing high quality wines from these grapes. Research will be conducted on grape varieties that are in very limited commercial production nationally. The project will address both viticultural and enological factors that impact wine quality. Gerard Eisterhold will oversee the project and Moss Bittner, Vox's staff enologist, will complete the research. Clark Smith, a nationally known enology consultant, will provide outside technical assistance. Tasks associated with this project will be launched July 1, 2017, with the project completed by March 1, 2018.The development of biodiversity in our nation's wine industry is critical to its continued growth and vitality. New challenges from climate change are having a material impact on water availability, while even slight shifts in average temperatures alter the suitability of major grape growing regions for the continued production of traditional varieties. The persistence of legacy diseases, as well as the emergence of new plant pathologies continue to impact the viticulture industry, but can in part be addressed through the cultivation of varieties that are less vulnerable to infection. As a major driver of tourism and investment, the wine industry offers substantial opportunities for the preservation of small farms and for the economic development of underserved rural areas.
Animal Health Component
90%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
10%
Applied
90%
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
Vox Vineyards, Inc. (Vox) produces 40 varieties of rare American Heritage grapes on its farm in Platte County, Missouri. Founded in 1996 by Gerard (Jerry) Eisterhold, Vox recently completed construction of an on-farm winery that processes grapes produced on the farm into artisan wine for distribution through direct marketing channels and to restaurants in the Kansas City area.Vox Vineyards began its work of tracking down and propagating rare grape varieties in 1996. Each of these American Heritage grapes has its own unique character, standing apart from the European varieties that currently dominate American viticulture, while exhibiting superior robustness of flavor. In many cases, these grapes have excellent disease resistance and require less water to produce than European varieties.Many of the varieties produced at Vox are not used commercially by other vineyards. Vox specializes in wines made from American Heritage grapes, in particular cultivars pioneered during the 19th century by Thomas Volney Munson, who bred hundreds of varieties and promoted American rootstock to European vineyards threatened by phylloxera blight. These grape varieties are not only resistant to disease and well-suited to Missouri's climate but command a premium price in today's market for locally-produced, heritage products.Vox currently has more than six acres of productive vines, and recently launched commercial production and sale of a limited number of varieties and blends. The majority of the wines produced have excellent flavor and show good commercial potential. Sales are made direct from the winery and through local retailers and restaurants. Vox's Norton, Hidalgo, Lenoir and Albania varietals have won awards in regional competitions and have been received favorably by regional sommeliers. Wines from Vox are marketed under the Terra Vox brand name.Vox is committed to increasing biodiversity in the domestic wine industry and is committed to outreach. Vox's founder Jerry Eisterhold has presented on the challenges of marketing rare varieties to the American Society of Wine Economist, and has been invited to present on the legacy of Midwestern viticulture at the Smithsonian in spring 2017. Eisterhold has made professional outreach presentations at over ten venues in the last three years.Vox aims to revitalize Missouri as a major wine-producing region for not only Norton wines but dozens of other American Heritage varieties. It is essential to develop a value-added product from these unique varieties of grapes as part of a larger effort to celebrate and preserve the nation's biodiversity.Identification and Significance of the Problem and OpportunityClimate change poses a serious threat to vineyards throughout the world, as grape crops are historically sensitive to extreme weather fluctuations (Jones et al. 2005, White et al. 2006). Increased temperatures and the reduced availability of water in certain ecosystems may dramatically impact grape production.The majority of United States vineyards are planted with Vitis vinifera, from European origin, which flourish under limited conditions. Because of the lack of biodiversity in the nation's cultivated grapes, substantial grape acreage may be impacted by climate change.Therefore, it critical to improve grape biodiversity. The development of alternative grape varietals from native grapes may one day provide existing vineyards with alternative genetics to address changes from climate change and disease.Further, the development and commercialization of these native grape varietals foster economic development in areas of the country that were previously considered unsuitable for wine production. Significant research has been undertaken to develop Northern Grape varietals that have fostered development of the wine industries in many of the Northern States (Northern Grapes Project 2011-15).This project addresses varietals rarely grown on a commercial scale, that represent the unique genetic heritage of the Midwest, and as a collection recall the pioneering work of American botanists, plant breeders, and viticulturists. Many of the varietals in this project were developed by TV Munson, a Texas viticulturist whose research was instrumental developing rootstock that ultimately saved the French wine industry during the 1860 phylloxera outbreak. Vox's vision is to develop grape production, winemaking, and marketing practices suited to the unique characteristics of these American Heritage grape varietals. The economically viability of small wineries in the Midwest and this vineyard rely on wine sales that result from a production chain of vineyard establishment (selection of the right cultivar for the climate and soil), effective growing practices (producing ripe, disease-free fruit), and appropriate processing (winemaking practices adapted to the cultivars) to produce a quality product and consumer experience.This specific grant project will focus on developing appropriate processing practices that are adapted to these American Heritage varietals. Modern winemaking protocols are based on V. vinifera grapes but, compared to traditional cultivars, the fruit of Vox's American Heritage cultivars contain different phenolic profiles resulting from unique levels of acid, soluble solids, tannins, and pigments. To produce high-quality, attractive wines, the winemaking practice needs to be adapted to the unique fruit composition of these cultivars in a manner that highlights the sensory attributes of the grapes. In addition, winemaking practices can be altered to accentuate varietal characteristics (e.g., yeast strain, skin contact during fermentation) and selection of wine style, including fortified wines, sweet wines, late-harvest and dessert wines.
Project Methods
Research will be conducted on grape varieties including Lomanto, Lenoir and Herbemont that are in very limited commercial production nationally, and a selection of 12 other varieties that are commercially unknown. The overall project objective is to develop and optimize winemaking practices to sustainably produce and market distinctive, high quality wines from American Heritage grape varietals.Technical Objective 1: Identify Viticultural Factors that Impact Wine QualityViticultural factors addressed in the research will include evaluating the effects of different pruning and canopy management strategies on fruit yield, ripeness and wine quality; and investigating the suitability of several disease control and plant nutrient materials not previously evaluated for use with the varieties grown at Vox.Task A: Identify optimal canopy management strategies for grape varietals.Task B: Identify optimal disease control strategies for grape varietals.Task C: Identify optimal plant nutrition strategies for grape varietals.Technical Objective 2: Identify Enological Factors that Impact Wine QualityEnological factors addressed in the research will include the biological and chemical adjustment of wine acidity; the effects of tannin additions on flavor, mouthfeel and color stability; and the effects of enzymes on yield, color and flavor.Task A: Identify acidification adjustments necessary for flavor improvement.Task B: Identify tannin additions for improved wine quality by variety.Task C: Assess enzyme requirements for varietals.