By Craig Tordsen, content specialist, AgMRC, Iowa State University, ctordsen@iastate.edu.

Revised March 2012.

Overview
The last 15 years have seen a growth of Iowa wineries, which is actually a rebirth. During the early 20th century, Iowa was the sixth-largest grape producer in the nation. The industry declined as a result of Prohibition, the growing market for corn and soybeans, damage to grapevines caused by the drift of herbicides and the Armistice Day blizzard in 1940.

Iowa has seen a rebound of both grape production and wineries. Since the first native winery opened in 1997, 98 licensed wineries producing native Iowa wine have opened, and more than 600 acres are planted to grapes. The average monthly production of wine was 29,600 gallons in December 2011 compared to 4,293 in June 2002, an increase of 689 percent. Average monthly wine sales have increased to 22,100 gallons from 3,744 gallons. In the year ending December 2011, state records showed Iowa wine sales of 265,255 gallons.

The chart below represents the supply and demand of Iowa native wine since June 2002.

Approximately 20 varieties of grapes are well adapted to the Iowa climate, including the native Catawba, the French-American hybrid Marechal-Foch, La Crosse and St Croix. Other well-suited varieties are Delaware, Norton/Cynthiana, Leon Millot, Seyval Blanc and Vignoles.

Most of the wine produced in Iowa is consumed in Iowa. Iowa wine consumption per person is 1.39 gallons a year. The U.S. average is 2.5 gallons per year. By comparison, Iowans drink 25.8 gallons of beer per person.

As of March 2012, there are 98 Iowa wineries.