Home > Kansas > Kansas Farm to Table > Kansas Agriculture Includes Wine
Kansas Agriculture Includes Wine
In partnership with:
The Sunflower State may not come to mind when it comes to making wine, but it certainly should.
Two local innovators are husband-and-wife team Bryan Zesiger and Gina Montalbano at Z&M Twisted Vines in Lawrence. What started as a hobby helped the couple retire from their respective jobs in the U.S. Army and education to pursue their next venture: starting a winery. They opened a storefront and tasting room in Leavenworth, then bought 100 acres in Lawrence to grow their own grapes, blackberries and other fruits. They also have a kiosk at the Oak Park Mall in Overland Park.
Wine All You Want
Montalbano and Zesiger had to quickly learn how to farm the land. Through a combination of research, talking to other farmers, and trial and error, they’ve come up with their own way of getting things done.
“The challenge of trying to grow something and make something that’s good is an uphill battle for any farmer or rancher,” Zesiger says. “But not everybody in the state recognizes enology and viticulture. That’s a challenge.”
See more: 6 Agritourism Destinations to Visit in Kansas
That challenge has been fruitful. Today, Z&M makes more than 40 wines using local produce with eco-friendly practices, including turning potential waste into soaps, lip care, body scrubs and candles. Customers can also take part in their online wine club.
“It’s satisfying from start to finish,” Montalbano says. “We can see everything that we are doing in our bottles – the gratification is the final product, and we are so proud of all of our wines. It’s all of our efforts and energy.”
Grape Education
Scott Kohl grew up as a western Kansas farm kid who only knew how to grow wheat and raise cattle. Today, he serves as director of the viticulture and enology program for Highland Community College as well as the manager of the school’s 456 Wineries program.
In 2007, at the suggestion of vintners, Kohl helped put together a night class on how to make wine that turned out to be a huge success. The public wasn’t aware that you could even grow grapes in Kansas.
The college partnered with Viticulture Enology Science and Technology Alliance (VESTA) to create degree programs and won grants to create a winery incubator, 456 Wineries. Fifteen years later, 162 students have gone through the program and five budding wineries have used the incubator, where they have access to equipment and have a helping hand in the licensing permitting process.
The incubator makes the startup process more accessible to those who are curious to try their hand at winemaking. Once they have their license and permit, they can rent space and access 5,000 liters of tank capacity, along with a crusher, destemmer, press and bottling line.
“We show them how to do everything, teach them how to use the equipment, but they are their own winery,” Kohl says. “The idea is it gives them a chance to try this.”
Future Fermentation
Roy Garrett, the owner of Red Rock Hill Vineyards in Westmoreland, whet his wine palate through the incubator. He was planning on starting a small farm, but after hearing about 456 Wineries, he jumped at the chance to grow grapes and make his own wine.
“I was able to use my own grapes, learn how my grapes are processed, how they ferment and what’s the best way to make them into a great tasting wine,” Garrett says. “I feel confident that when I get my own equipment and get my own space out there in my vineyard that I can produce some quality product.”
The newly minted vintner still has inventory to sell from his time at the incubator, which he sells at farmers’ markets, wine tastings and special events like the Tulip Festival in nearby Wamego. His goal is to build a production facility and tasting room on
his property.
“Without the education and experience I received, I would probably just be selling my grapes for others to ferment,” Garrett says.
These agritourism and winery businesses are members of From the Land of Kansas: the state’s trademark program to promote businesses that grow, produce, process or manufacture products in Kansas. For more, go to fromthelandofkansas.com.
How awesome my husband and I will have to come out and check it out.