News Release
November 12, 2007

Landscaping Tips: Growing great grapes in Wyoming

By Justin Moss, director UW Sheridan Research and Extension Center

When one thinks of Wyoming, one probably imagines majestic mountains, high plains and wildlife rather than growing grapes for jellies, jams, juices or winemaking.

Many homeowners, ranchers and farmers in the state, however, are thinking grapes (Vitis spp.), and they are successfully growing and harvesting cold-hardy wine and table varieties. 

The most popular red wine grape for Wyoming is Frontenac. A close relative, Frontenac Gris, is gaining popularity as a white wine grape. 

Frontenac wine is being produced at the Table Mountain Vineyards in southeastern Wyoming near Huntley by Patrick Zimmerer and his family. He is president of the Wyoming Grape and Wine Association, which has about 50 members from Wyoming. 

Zimmerer and other growers in Goshen and Platte counties are producing grapes on anywhere from 1/2-acre to 5 acres. Homeowners are also getting into the mix. 

The most popular table grape in Wyoming is Valiant, which is great for making juices, jams and jellies. 

The most important factors for growing grapes in Wyoming are site and variety selection.  An ideal location is a sunny site on the south side of a home or other structures having wind and snow protection on the north and west sides. 

It is a good idea to take a soil sample. Results will help indicate what is needed for optimal growing conditions. Soil testing information sheets can be obtained at any University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension Service county office (contact information is at http://ces.uwyo.edu/Counties.asp) or online at http://ces.uwyo.edu/PUBS/MP6.2.pdf.

There is a $20 fee for the standard test at the UW Soil Testing Laboratory, which includes pH, salts, organic matter, phosphate-phosphorus, nitrate-nitrogen, lime and texture. There is a $4 fee for additional tests. The lab is in the College of Agriculture, and the director, Kelli Belden, can be reached at (307) 766-2135.

For the homeowner, a nice arbor or fence makes a good trellis system while those interested in producing a larger number of vines will need to build a dedicated trellis system. Contact information to help with this is listed below.

Selecting a cold-hardy grape variety is a must for the Wyoming climate. Large-scale, cold-hardy grape variety testing has been initiated across Wyoming by the UW Agricultural Experiment Station. More information on growing grapes in Wyoming, including what varieties to consider, can be found on the Sheridan Research and Extension (R&E) Center Web page at http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/Station_Info/Sheridan/07Grape.asp.

Justin Moss can be reached at the Sheridan R&E Center at (307) 737-2415 or jmoss@uwyo.edu. 

Contact: Robert Waggener, Editor
Phone: (307) 766-3571
E-mail: robertw@uwyo.edu

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