Kansas Wine Conference: Photos & Story Preview

On Friday and Saturday, Midwest Wine Press attended the 27th Annual Kansas Grape Growers and Winemakers Association (KGGWA) Conference in Topeka, Kansas.

Among the speakers were a number of Midwestern viticulture heavy-weights. We got along to these talks:

Lucian Dressel, who in 1966 reopened Missouri’s Mount Pleasant Winery in Augusta and now breeds and patents new grape varieties at Davis Viticultural Research in California. Mr Dressel spoke about his Crimson-Cabernet grape variety, a cross between Norton and Cabernet-Sauvignon.

Dr Paul Domoto, from Iowa State University’s Department of Horiticulture, gave a detailed talk on soil care and management. Dr Domoto specializes in pomology and viticulture and is Vineyard Studies Team Leader for the Northern Grapes Project.

See related story: Northern Grapes Project Pays Dividends in Year One

And Ernie Wilmink, president of Agriozein, talked about using ozonated water as an environmentally friendly alternative to chemicals for controlling vineyard diseases.

We’ll be rolling out stories on those topics soon…

And Midwest Wine Press had the opportunity to talk to a lot of friendly winemakers – and taste some nice wines. A special thanks to Prairie Fire Winery’s Bob DesRuisseaux for hosting us and also to Mike Steinert from Glacier’s Edge Winery for offering sympathy as I nursed a hangover at breakfast.

Here are some photos from the action:

Lucian Dressel’s talk about Crimson Cabernet

Cathy Warring from Night Hawk Winery

Let the wine tastings begin!

KGGWA’s and Prairie Fire Winery’s Bob DesRuisseaux

Ernie Wilmink, president of Agriozein with one of his “ozonators”

David and Natalie Sollo from Grace Hill Winery

Gilbert Hermes from White Wind Farm smiles as Michael Jones from Scott Labs tries his wine

One of many…