Vox Vineyards, Inc., located in the Loess Hills of Platte County, Missouri grows approximately 40 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.
