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Like other winemaking countries, America possesses several native vines that have and can produce outstanding wines. And like the native vines of other countries, the American Native grapes possess the advantage of having adapted to the regional climates and soils. Yet, wine from these often unknown grapes have been overshadowed by vinifera and French/American hybrids. Many believe the time to put North American Native varieties front and center has arrived.

What is the definition of a North American Native Variety?

Are they siblings of Vinifera and French/American Hybrids?

What is their origin story?

Why is T.V. Munson a key part of the story of North American Natives?

What is the TerraVox Project and why were 60 varieties planted in Missouri?

Which North American Native varieties show the most promise for winemaking?

What is the future of winemaking with North American Native grapes?

This webinar will explore the past, present and future of North American Native grapes with an eye on the wines produced from them. Three of the foremost experts on these grapes and wines will be on hand to share their observations and answer questions about the Native North American viticulture and winemaking, as well as the prospects for encouraging the development of a North American Native grape wine niche.

The Webinar will feature:

Jerry Eisterhold, Proprietor, TerraVox Winery

Jerry Eisterhold is one of America’s foremost museum designers. He is also the founder of TerraVox Vineyards in Missouri where, since 1996, he has actively farmed North American native grapes with the intent of discerning which are best suited to form the foundation of a collection of Native American Native wines. Since 2015 TerraVox Vineyards has been among the soul commercial wineries producing wine from Native North American grapes.

J. Stephen Casscles

Stephen Casscles is a Hudson River Valley horticulturalist with over 45 years of experience in growing grapes & other fruits; making wine; documenting the growth habits & characteristics of fruit; and presenting papers and lectures on today’s, early 20th Century, and 19th Century fruit culture and horticulture in New York and New England. The author of Grapes of the Hudson Valley & Other Cool Climate Regions of the United States and Canada” and advisor to the New York Wine and Grape Foundation.

Clark Smith, The Smith Winery and Clark Smith Consulting

Clark Smith has worked in the wine industry since 1972, creating for himself a reputation as among the most innovative and thoughtful people in the industry. Smith is an active founder of Vinovation, a company that brought European innovations, including micro-oxygenation, ultra-filtration, oak alternatives and electrodialysis to the United States. The author of the influential “Postmodern Winemaking”, Clark has worked with TerraVox Vineyards for several years where he consults with Jerry Eisterhold on the commercial and theoretical aspects of the TerraVox project.

DATE: Tuesday, June 6th, 2023

TIME: 12:00pm Central

VENUE: Zoom

LENGTH: 1 Hour