Wyoming is known for its harsh, unforgiving climate that makes cultivating a crop difficult at best, but its soil has produced quality grapes for vintage wine since 2001. Wyoming’s largest vineyard and winery, Table Mountain Vineyards, located near the Nebraska border in Huntley is beginning to draw attention from around the world.
However, many Wyoming residents have difficulty believing Wyoming can produce quality wine with grapes actually grown in the state.
“Grapes can grow in Wyoming? What?” Deanie Spath, a senior in Agricultural Education, said. “Are you sure they are just not shipping them in?”
Table Mountain Vineyards, owned by Patrick Zimmerer, is gaining recognition and respect at the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition in Rochester, N.Y. The competition ranks thousands of wines from wine makers around the world and TMV claimed two bronze medals with its selection.
Two TMV wines, “Stampede White,” a dry white wine made from the Lacrosse grapes and “Wyoming Nectar,” a honey wine made from local clover honey and cinnamon, won honors in a contest that included more than 3,500 wines. The competition for the top honors came from 20 countries, four provinces and all 50 states.
“We have entered this contest over the years to represent our state in efforts to establish a new industry in our area,” Zimmerer said in an interview with the Wyoming Business Council. “To be able to compete with success on an international level is a great accomplishment.”
The vineyard was established, as the family describes, as a “research project gone wild.” After Zimmerer finished his senior thesis at the University of Wyoming about establishing vineyards in Wyoming, he convinced his family to plant a small 300-vine vineyard on the four-generation family farm. Once vines that could thrive in Wyoming were found, the enterprise quickly expanded to 10 acres with 10,000 vines that contain 12 different varieties of grapes.
“After learning about new types of grapes that could grow, we started planting them in 2001. So I guess you could say UWYO contributed to our adventure in growing grapes,” Zimmerer said. “It’s still trial and error finding what works and doesn’t. They aren’t California wine grapes for sure.”
With all of the vines growing and producing grapes, turning them into wine was the logical next step. In 2004, Zimmerer and his sister Aime Zimmerer entered UW’s 10K Business Plan Competition with their plans for the winery and won, winning $10,000 to put toward opening up their dream business.
TMV produces 10 wines, including the seasonal Cherry Rush with cherries from Torrington. The company also boasts a selection of table wines in all levels of dryness, fruit wines, and even a honey wine. All wines are made from 100 percent Wyoming grown products and are full of “Wyoming Character,” reflecting Wyoming conditions in every sip.
