Midwest Wine Press

$1.5 Million Raised for “Teaching Winery” in Missouri

by · December 30, 2013

According to the Columbia Missourian, the University of Missouri is about half way funded for a new $3m teaching winery.  The new wine and food education facility is tentatively set to open in late 2015.

According to Tony Kooyumjian, Missouri Wine and Grape Research Committee (MWGRC) chairman and owner/winemaker at Augusta Winery,  the teaching winery would anchor the complex of buildings that would form the Missouri Wine and Grape Institute.

Kooyumjian said that the  MWGRC  currently share offices, labs, and space with CAFNR, the enology and viticulture program that is part of the Food Science department at MU.  “ANFR has been very generous and supportive,  but if we have our own buildings, it will distinguish our program and hopefully draw students from all over the Midwest,” Kooyumjian said.

At this point, he added that land is appropriated for the complex and a teaching vineyard. Both are close to campus and on University land.

The funding is from industry and other interested groups.

“This facility is very important to the Missouri Wine and Grape industry,” Kooyumjian said.  “Because up to this point,  businesses wanting to expand have had a difficult time finding qualified people, willing to relocate to Missouri, to fill key positions. With the new complex we hope to educate a workforce, familiar with the Midwest growing conditions and varietals, to help us move to the next level of quality wine production.

The wine and food education program is targeted at Missouri students as well as Midwestern students.

“In conjunction with research in new varietal selection and new techniques in the vineyard and winery, we hope to use this facility to reach our goals. Our mission is to improve wine and grape production through research, education, and outreach,” Kooyumjian said. “The new facility is vital to this mission,” he concluded.

For more information see: Mizzou Awaits Funds for Teaching Winery 

 

Tags:

Mark Ganchiff

Mark Ganchiff is the publisher of Midwest Wine Press, the leading source of news on the growing wine industry in the central United States. Mark has been a wine judge at the 2012 and 2014 INDY International Wine Competition, the 2014 Cold Climate Wine Competition, the 2013 Mid-American Wine Competition, the 2012 Illinois State Fair Wine Competition and the 2013 Michigan Wine Competition. He also enjoys speaking at wine events including the Cold Climate Wine Conference, the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association Annual Meeting, the Midwest Grape and Wine Conference and the Wisconsin Fruit and Vegetable Conference. Mark's articles about regional wine have appeared in Vineyard & Winery Management, WineMaker and several regional magazines. Mark is a Level One Sommelier in the Court of Master Sommeliers. He lives in Louisville, but also has a residence in Chicago.

You may also like...