Nevada provides a great example of how the economic impact of wine is spread around depending on the nature of a particular state. Usually, the proportions of Direct, Supplier, and Indirect impacts are reasonably close, but here Direct Impact is almost half of the total. Is that because Nevada is a major wine-producing state? No, it’s a very large wine-consuming state because of the casinos in Las Vegas and Reno.
To wit: Of the total 15,045 jobs in the Direct Impact categories, only 375 are in wineries, 674 are in wholesalers, and 14,306 are in retail (restaurants or wine stores). That’s 95% of the jobs supported by wine!
As a wine-producing state, it’s tough in Nevada. There’s plenty of sunshine, for sure, but also soil with a high boron content and salinity, and hard water. On the production and marketing side, until recently, the state’s wholesalers have kept restrictions on where wine can be made in the state.
Great Grapes: Cinsault
Common in southern France, Italy, Lebanon, and now South Africa, Cinsault (sin-SO) thrives in hot climates and is versatile as a Rose, blended with Cabernet Sauvignon, or as a popular varietal on its own.
