Economic Impact of Iowa Wine Up 80% since ’08

From the Iowa Grape Growers Association comes confirmation that the economic impact of the state’s wine industry has grown rapidly in the past five years.  Wine tourism is the primary reason for the increase in Iowa’s wine economy.

The recent study by Frank, Rimmerman and Company has found the economic impact of the wine and grape industry in Iowa to be $420 during 2012, up from $234 million in 2008, an 80 percent increase.

According to the study, tourism continues to be an important factor in the growth of the wine industry in Iowa. As wineries grow and improve, so too, do the numbers of tourists. In fact, the number of wine tourists increased by 51 percent since 2008. New wineries offer additional destinations and opportunities for visitors to experience Iowa wine country.

‘We are proud of the growth the wine industry has shown in the last few years,” said Mike Pence, president of the Iowa Wine Growers Association. ‘As an Association, we look forward to continuing to support Iowa’s wineries as they work to improve their winemaking skills and attract more visitors to their communities.”

Other highlights from the study include:

• 2,678 full-time equivalent jobs in the industry

• $83 million paid out in wages

• 296,900 gallons of wine produced with a retail value of $15 million

• 358,000 wine related tourists spent $41 million in tourism expenditures

The report, commissioned by the Midwest Grape & Wine Industry Institute, can be viewed in its entirety at:

The Economic Impact of Iowa Wine and Wine Grapes