Nebraska wines showed that they are maturing in terms of quality at the UNL Winery & Grape Growers Forum and Trade Show in Kearney.
Wine packaging specialist Ben Meredith sees the new maturity in Nebraska wines clearly: "The larger wineries that have been here (have) really come into their own, are really starting to design their own flavors and profiles and understanding how they can control the flavor output of their product, and they're seeing a...unique following amongst their wine style, and seeing it come of age."
International competition-winning wines like a Nebraska Edelweiss served as inspiration at the confab, which was organized by the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.
UNL professor of viticulture Paul Read says people have a lot to learn about Nebraska's wines: "When I travel and do international research activities, symposia, and so on, I take Nebraska wines with me, and it shocks people...to realize what high-quality wines are produced here."
At the show, trade fare like bottles and pruning shears could supplement Nebraska's surprising greatest asset - its climate.
Grapes that struggle elsewhere find fertile soil in Nebraska.
Seth McFarland, President of the Nebraska Wine & Grape Growers Association: "It's too hot, it's too cold, it's too wet, it's too dry for a lot of the grape varieties across the world, but they seem to thrive here."
