WNC offers ways to explore wine, grape industry opportunities

Nevadans may soon find wine country as close as Fallon or Carson Valley with the changing pace of local agriculture.

World-renowned wine maker and grape grower John Caldwell of Caldwell Vineyards will present a Nevada Wine & Grape Seminar on Nov. 7, at Western Nevada College's Fallon campus.

The luncheon seminar will be from 10 a.m.--2 p.m. at Virgil Getto Hall, 160 Campus Way in Fallon. Cost is $25, or $20 if registered by Nov. 4.

Caldwell will tour Northern Nevada vineyards and farms for several days and then discuss the Silver State's climate, soil and water in relation to growing grapes.

The Caldwell family has been in the California wine country for 120 years. A viticulture legend, John Caldwell was the first in Napa Valley to use the innovative technique of whole-berry, direct-barrel fermentation for his red wines. He traveled in Europe where he learned about a new wave of viticulture focused on rootstocks and clones.

The wine and grape seminar is part of a series of workshops to be offered by the Specialty Crop Institute of Western Nevada College, in association with the Nevada Department of Agriculture.

The Specialty Crop Institute is being established to teach alternative farming methods in the face of rising land and water prices.

For more information or to register, contact Ginny Dugan, Western Nevada College, 775-423-7565, Ext. 2230.

For information regarding the Specialty Crop Institute, contact Project Coordinator Ann Louhela at 351-2551.

Anne Hansen is public information officer in the marketing department at Western Nevada College.