Did you know that Iowa has a burgeoning wine industry?

You have to say I'm very surprised how good that tasted.

A lot of people tell me, oh, I'm pleasantly surprised, and I'd like people to not be pleasantly

surprised that we can produce these kinds of wines in Iowa.

It's Thursday, May 23rd, and you're listening to Science Friday. I'm Cyfry producer Rasha Iridi.

When you think of delicious wine, you might envision rolling vineyards in California,

Italy, France, Argentina, but have you considered the Midwest?

All wine grapes are variations of the same species, Vides Vanifera, but those grapes can't survive the Midwest's cold winters. That's why

researchers are growing special varieties that could weather the seasons. Here's Ira Flato, live in front of an audience at Iowa State University in Ames.

Joining me now to tell me all about the science of Iowa Wine is my guest Dr.

Aaron Norton, director of the Midwest Grape and White Industry Institute at Iowa State University,

based right here in Ames, Iowa.

Welcome to Science Friday.

Thank you.

You know, I never thought of Iowa as wine country.

Most people don't.

I surely didn't before I arrived as well.

So how long have Iowans been growing wine grapes here?

Iowa actually has a very rich history in grape growing

dating back into the mid 1800s and we were actually sixth in the nation in 1919 for grape growing.

Sixth in the nation in 1919.

Now after this prohibition of course came into effect and so there's some other factors that led to the decline

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