The art and craft of winemaking has put down roots in the Midwest, where enterprising vintners coax reds and whites from the prairie earth while their businesses stand at the hub of a new tradition of community and conviviality. This book tracks among the hardy vines and heartland terroir of wineries across Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, and Ohio. Blending history and observation, it gives us a top-down view of the business from cuttings and cultivation to sales and marketing. It also invites entrepreneurs to share stories of their ambitions, hard work, and strategies. The book's discussion is divid ... More

The art and craft of winemaking has put down roots in the Midwest, where enterprising vintners coax reds and whites from the prairie earth while their businesses stand at the hub of a new tradition of community and conviviality. This book tracks among the hardy vines and heartland terroir of wineries across Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, and Ohio. Blending history and observation, it gives us a top-down view of the business from cuttings and cultivation to sales and marketing. It also invites entrepreneurs to share stories of their ambitions, hard work, and strategies. The book's discussion is divided into three parts. It looks at wineries as places that bring people together to informally socialize with others. It then considers the wineries as having an inspiration, doing good work, and being rewarded for that effort. It also considers local wineries in the larger institutional contexts and actors. The book traces the hows and whys of progress toward that noblest of goals: a great vintage that puts their winery on the map.