Las Vegas City Wire

The University of Nevada, Reno has announced that it has aligned with the Northern Nevada Demonstration Vineyard & Winemaking Network to promote the local wine industry.

The university has been conducting studies on the fruit for the past 25 years, according to a news release.

“Our College is absolutely committed to partnering with businesses in this state to promote the growth of industries with potential for our state,” said Bill Payne, dean of the College of Agriculture. “There seems to be a real synergy right now with growers, producers and others in the community, that the time is right to enter into a more formal agreement to bring the University’s resources and research capabilities to help advance this industry.”

The university reports that it has given research information to local wineries with regards to harvesting grapes in the northern and southern portion of the state and the partnership will make use of “viticulture expertise from around the Western U.S.”

“The primary partners include the University’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources; its Experiment Station and Desert Farming Initiative and the Nevada Grape Growers & Winemakers, an organization of Nevada grape growers and winemakers and others in the state who want to support the industry,” according to the university.

The project operates on a commercial farm that has orchards, open fields, hoop houses and a greenhouse, and hopes to further develop resourceful farm climate intelligence, along with providing information through demonstrations and participation.

“Past research and practical experience has found riesling to be well suited to our northern Nevada region,” said Jill Moe, director of the initiative. “It’s cold hardy and doesn’t need a long growing season.”

According to the university, the school established its first trial vineyards at the Valley Road Field Lab 27 years ago led by Grant Cramer, professor emeritus with the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology.