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Highland Wine Named Best of Show
published January 22, 2014
Highland Wine Named Best of Show
During the Kansas Grape Growers and Winemakers Association (KGGWA) Annual Conference, results were tabulated for the Taste of Kansas, the annual judging done by the KGGWA of Kansas wines, and Highland Community College’s Chambourcin Reserve, a dry red, won Best of Show. In addition, the College’s Traminette won Best of Class of the Semi-Sweet Whites. Chambourcin and Traminette are types of grapes which are grown at the College’s vineyard located northeast of its Wamego Center.
This was the first year the College’s wines were submitted for judging as this is their initial vintage. The College vineyard was planted four years ago as part of the development of programs in viticulture (grape growing) and enology (wine making). The grapes were harvested and the wine made and bottled in the classroom facility at the Wamego Center. The program has grown with support from VESTA and Kansas Department of Agriculture grants, and now employs a Director (Scott Kohl) and Instructor/Vineyard Manager (Nick Martin). The two have traveled the state of Kansas sharing their knowledge and assisting Kansas entrepreneurs interested in joining the burgeoning grape and wine industry in the state. They have also planted a second vineyard adjacent to the Wamego facility that contains over 45 varieties of grapes and will be used for research purposes to continue support of the Kansas grape growing industry.
