Like many states, Iowa produced grapes and wine far earlier than assumed (1857), even created a Grape Growers Association in 1893, and was the 6th largest producer until Prohibition wiped out the entire American wine industry. The modern wine industry has been propelled by creation of the Iowa Wine Growers Association in 2000 to provide education, promotion … Read more

CBMTRA: The Gifts that Keeps on Giving Wineries often ask why they should join WineAmerica. The simple answer: Money. Since January 1, 2018, wineries throughout the country have been saving significant amounts of money due to various legislation that WineAmerica lobbied for over the years—most recently the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act (CBMTRA). … Read more

The Hoosier state had grapes and wine in the 18th century, and was the 10th largest producer by the mid 19th century. The Indiana Small Winery Act of 1971 sparked major growth, so now the state has many small wineries and two of the largest in the United States. The state’s location and corresponding climate … Read more

Shutdown: No End in Sight “Government shutdown” was once a dreaded thought in Washington, but today it’s no big deal—and in fact an actual event is now ending a third week, with very little discussion.. What has changed? Politics. It turns out that shutting the government down is a convenient way to reduce the size … Read more

Illinois Wine Country Illinois has a wine-growing history dating back to 1691, and in 1900 was the fourth largest wine producer in the country until Prohibition wiped out the industry, as it did elsewhere. The modern industry was stimulated by a 1976 law allowing onsite sales at wineries, with both Lynfred and Galena wineries opening … Read more