-Messenger picture via Invoice Shea
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig examines some grapes Friday afternoon at Soldier Creek Vineyard north of Fortress Dodge whilst winemaker Anne Zwink talks concerning the technique of rising and harvesting grapes.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig spent a while strolling amid inexperienced vegetation in a box northeast of Fortress Dodge Friday afternoon.
Alternatively, he was once no longer surrounded via corn, or soybeans and even hay. The vegetation had been one of the grapes grown on the Soldier Creek Vineyard.
Grapes and the manufacturing of wine haven’t been traditionally a large think about Iowa’s value-added agriculture business. However in step with Naig, Soldier Creek Vineyard represents a welcome diversification of agriculture.
“You’re doing what we need to see much more of,” he advised the individuals of the Secor circle of relatives, which owns the vineyard. “You’re value-added agriculture.”
Naig stated the wines produced in Webster County are a just right instance of what the brand new Select Iowa emblem advertising marketing campaign is ready.
-Messenger picture via Invoice Shea
Anne Zwink, left, of Soldier Creek Vineyard, and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig stand amid the Webster County vineyard’s grape arbors Friday afternoon whilst speaking concerning the technique of rising grapes to make wine.
Select Iowa, which shall be introduced throughout the Iowa State Honest subsequent month, is meant to lend a hand customers pick out meals merchandise which are grown, raised and made within the state.
Soldier Creek Vineyard, he stated, “completely suits in that idea.”
“They’re precisely the type of process we need to see extra of,” he stated.
Despite the fact that the Select Iowa program received’t have its reliable debut till the State Honest, some grants have already been awarded via it. Soldier Creek Vineyard won a $16,204 grant to lend a hand acquire a automobile. The automobile, that could be known as the Wine Wagon or in all probability the Vin Van, will permit the vineyard to take its merchandise to markets and occasions.
“This makes it more uncomplicated for us to get out,” stated Megan Secor, a co-owner and advertising coordinator for the vineyard. “We don’t need to arrange a tent. We simply pull in and post the awning.”
Somewhat of misfortune resulted in the introduction of Soldier Creek Vineyard.
The Secor circle of relatives were elevating hogs on its farm alongside Paragon Street when in 2001 a hearth destroyed a hog development. The particles was once all cleared away, and the circle of relatives needed to make a decision what to do subsequent. At about that point, Invoice Secor took a category at Iowa Central Neighborhood School about rising grapes. His son, Robert Secor, was once taking horticulture categories at Iowa State college In Ames. The 2 took some extra categories on grapes.
The verdict was once made to get into the grape and wine industry.
Anne Zwink, one in all Invoice Secor’s daughters, modified her primary at Purdue College to meals science so she may just assist in making the wine.
The primary grape vines had been planted in 2007 on about 5 acres of land.
A development for wine-making was once constructed at the farm in 2012. The primary antique of wine got here in 2014.
These days, there are 11 forms of grapes
And Zwink’s trade of primary proved recommended: remaining yr she was once named the state’s winemaker of the yr.
