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W i n e s & V i n e s J U n e 2 0 1 4 73 WineEast N E W S O F G R A P E S A N D W I N E S I N E A S T E R N N O R T H A M E R I C A I N T H E N E W S p 7 3 O P I N I O N p 7 5 W I N E M A K I N G p 7 8 Re-establishing Wine Grapes in West Georgia Missouri wine industry helps University of Georgia expand trial vineyard G riffin, Ga.—The University of Georgia planted 20 Norton vines May 6 for a trial vineyard at the Griffin campus. The University of Missouri's Grape and Wine Institute recently sent the vines to help re-establish the grape and wine industry in western Georgia. The Griffin vineyard currently has four other cultivars planted: Blanc du Bois, Lenoir, Lomanto and Herbemont. The area west and south of Atlanta, Ga., is not presently known for its grape and wine industry. In the early 1900s, however, western Georgia and eastern Alabama had 20,000 acres of grapes planted, and growers and wine- makers shipped train loads of grapes and wine all over the country. Prohibition started early in Georgia (1907) and didn't end until 1935, with the result that the grape and wine industries were completely shut down. In 2009, leaders in Georgia's Carroll County were considering a potential revival of the grape and wine industry as a part of a larger sustainable agriculture initiative. The fledging Vineyard and Winery Associa- tion of West Georgia was set up and today has 200 members from 35 Georgia coun- ties and 10 states. Doug Mabry, executive director of the as- sociation, told Wines & Vines, "We know we can't grow vinifera, so we've been looking for grapes other than Muscadines that will grow here. Pierce's disease is a problem, so we're planting hybrids and native varietals." Mabry said that during the 19th century Norton grapes were planted on the Griffin campus, where they are now being re-introduced. Missouri Wine and Grape Board executive director Jim Anderson visits Georgia this month. "We're happy to help the Georgia wine and grape industry move forward by sharing some of the lessons we've learned," he said. —Linda Jones McKee winesandvines.com Learn more: Search keywords "Georgia Missouri Norton." - B E C O PA D - Y E A S T & E N Z Y M E S - C R U S H PA D E Q U I P M E N T - S T E R I L E F I LT R AT I O N - W I N E R Y H O S E - O A K A LT E R N AT I V E S Case By Case Wine and Grape Supplier Your Source for World Class Wine Grapes and Bulk Wines Serving wineries nationwide on a Case By Case basis East and West Coast varieties available: R Winegrapes R Bulk Wine R Juice R Shiners Jim, Owner Northern California Office (707) 671-4126 • jim@casebycasebrokers.com Tom, Domestic and International Sales Southeast Office (864) 401-2297 • tom@casebycasebrokers.com www.casebycasebrokers.com Doug Mabry (left) and George Granade plant vines at the University of Georgia in Griffin.