Saturday, August 01, 2009 at 2:27 p.m.
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Camp Point, IL -- Good wine starts at the vine.
That's why Village Vineyard and Winery in Camp Point, Illinois hosted a Grape Harvest Workshop Saturday.
Prospective winemakers learned the tools of the trade, while current makers honed their skills.
It was sponsored by the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association.
Instructors from the University of Illinois Extension and Illinois Department of Agricultural gave participants hands on experience working with special equipment used in measuring and determining grape ripeness.
In addition to vineyard sampling of different grape varieties and other fruits, winemakers from across Illinois brought wine samples for analysis.
Instructors told us learning to properly test grapes will make for better tasting wine across Illinois.
"Illinois Agriculture is something that can use the grape and wine industry this is a good taste of Illinois Agriculture," said Gordon Cantrell, winemaker Village Vineyard and Winery.
