Not many people know the fascinating history of winemaking in Kansas. When it comes to Kansas wineries and vineyards, there’s quite a bit to know.
Z&M is proud to follow in a long tradition of wine in Kansas; come check us out at our Lawrence vineyard or Leavenworth winery!
History of Winemaking in Kansas
People are often surprised to learn that Kansas has a winemaking legacy. But why shouldn’t it? It’s home to no less than 8 native grape varieties.
Here’s a list and description of native Kansas grapes (all the ones available at Z&M have a * next to them):
- Chambourcin* – Originally from France, this French-American hybrid grape is now more widely available in the US than its country of origin. It’s famous for the deep red color imbued by its purple skin. Pair its light to medium body and fruity aromas with lamb or some KC BBQ.
- Chardonel – This grape is what you get when you cross Seyval with Chardonnay grapes. It’s close to a Chardonnay in character, so if you enjoy a clean and crisp white, this might be your grape!
- Fredonia* – These grapes are similar to the famous Concord grapes, this grape is ideal for using in punches and spiced wines like Sangria and mulled wine.
- Melody – A hybrid white wine grape, this light, fruity wine also boasts a crisp acidity, pairing well with fish and poultry.
- Norton – Originally bred in the 19th century in Virginia by a Dr. Daniel Norton, these grapes yield a dry red wine that is similar in taste to Cabernet Sauvignon.
- Seyval – Wine made from Seyval grapes makes for a dry or semi-dry white. If aged in barrels, it can take on similar characteristics to a Chardonnay.
- St. Vincent* – These hybrid grapes create a sweet red wine, ranging from a sparkling or rose wine to a wine that’s similar to a Chianti.
- Vignoles* – A white hybrid grape with mysterious origins, it’s highly aromatic and can be used to make off-dry or semi-sweet wines.
Norton and Concord grapes grew wild in Kansas. French explorers in northeastern Kansas in the early 18th century were making wine with the native grapes given to them by the indigenous people of the Missouri Bluffs.
German Immigrants and the “New Rhineland”
The soil of the Missouri River is ideal for farming, deep and mineral rich. German-speaking immigrants to Kansas led the way in making the 35,000 gallons of wine produced in 1872.
They were looking to find a “New Rhineland,” bringing to the state in the mid-19th century a substantial amount of people, cash, and winemaking know-how. By the end of the 1870s, that 35,000 gallons had grown six-fold.
In 1880, the state was a leading producer in the wine industry, the Kansas State Board of Agriculture reporting the state had produced 226,000 gallons of wine.
The Midwest Saves the World (or, Its Wine, Anyway…)
When French wines faced a serious wine blight in the mid-19th century, it was midwestern rootstock to the rescue. European vintners used the hearty rootstocks from midwestern grapes, grafting onto them their threatened grapes. The made-in-the-USA rootstocks were able to resist the bacterial infections that were harming European grape harvests.
Prohibition in Kansas
The Sunflower state had 5,000 acres of vineyard by 1901. Prohibition soon threatened this thriving crop, however.
Kansas had a back-and-forth history with prohibiting the sale and possession of alcohol. A state constitutional amendment prohibiting the manufacture and sales of “intoxicating liquors” in the state went into effect in 1881.
Rules against alcohol weren’t really enforced, however. Kansan farmers continued to grow grapes that they either sold to bootleggers, to Missouri vintners who could make wine legally, or to consumers to be eaten.
It wasn’t until Carry Nation started throwing rocks at saloons in 1900 that the movement began to pick up serious steam in the state and elsewhere. Compounding this anti-liquor mania was suspicion of the German immigrants’ Catholicism.
The state’s “bone dry” bill in 1917 made any possession of intoxicating liquors illegal. At the federal level, two years later the 18th Amendment was added to the US Constitution, and the Prohibition Era began.
Although Kansans drank throughout Prohibition, the state continued to keep Prohibition laws on the books. It wasn’t until 1948 that the state repealed Prohibition. This had an effect on the Kansas wine industry, which was not to begin to really revive until the latter half of the 20th century.
The Farm Winery Act
When Kansas packed the Farm Winery Act in 1985, it established guidelines for wineries within the state. Throughout the decades, wine production in the state began to steadily increase.
Today, with the help of the same rich Missouri River soil that the state’s German immigrants hoped to use to create the New Rhineland is helping the Kansas wine industry thrive.
Visit a Real Kansas Winery
If you want to experience genuine Kansas wine made with local Kansas produce, look no further than Z&M.
We are passionate about responsibly cultivating our Kansas soil, supporting our fellow Kansas farmers, and growing vibrant communities of wine lovers throughout the sunflower state.
Interested in trying some genuine Kansas state grapes? Stop by our winery in Leavenworth or our vineyard in Lawrence to try our Chambourcin, Vignoles, and Fredonia Kansas wines. We also have a St. Vincent wine in honor of our godson, Vincent, and the saint for which the grape is named.
All our wines made from Kansas state grapes come complete with custom labels celebrating the Sunflower State, you’re sure to remember your first taste of a true Kansas original with any one of these varietals. As it says on the labels: Kansas–Wine Not?
Our goal is to help put Kansas wines back on the map. Our state is currently the 36th state for grape production in the country, while our next door neighbor Missouri is in the nation’s top 10. We can do better than that!
You can also step into Kansas history with our Prohibition Wine Cellar in Leavenworth for a private bottling party. Hear the police siren every time a customer comes through the front door–it’s a raid!
Z&M is about heritage, whether it’s Bryan’s military service, Gina’s Italian culture, or Kansas’ state history, we believe it’s important to celebrate your roots. Stop by for a tasting and find out why we’re so proud of all three!