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Iowa

Iowa's cold-hardy grapes support dry, sweet, rosé, dessert, sparkling and ice-style wines. Some reds can be low in tannin, with currant and dried-fruit flavours.

Place
Iowa, Midwest
Look for
Loess Hills District
Producer profiles
0
Atlas locationIowa · Midwest41.66° N · 95.46° WOpen in Atlas

No producers listed yet

Producer coverage

Read about Iowa below, or explore the area on the map.

Iowa grows more than forty grape types selected to withstand cold winters. Those hardy grapes support dry, sweet, rosé, dessert, sparkling and ice-style wines. One cold-climate red style can be medium to full-bodied and low in tannin, with currant and dried-fruit flavours. Loess Hills District is an appellation in Iowa.

Continue through the region

Elsewhere in Midwest

  1. ArkansasNo producers listed yetArkansas includes the Altus and Arkansas Mountain AVAs. Beyond those mountain areas, vineyards generally turn to hardier grapes better suited to cold conditions.
  2. IllinoisNo producers listed yetWinter cold shapes grape choice in Illinois. Growers use American and French-American grapes, and Upper Mississippi River Valley and Shawnee Hills are the state's listed appellations.
  3. IndianaNo producers listed yetIndiana's wineries are concentrated in the south and centre, where climate and soils better support grape cultivation. Ohio River Valley and Indiana Uplands are listed appellations.
  4. MichiganNo producers listed yetMichigan's wine areas take much of their character from the Great Lakes. Old Mission Peninsula is associated with Riesling and Pinot Grigio, while Lake Michigan Shore is known for bold reds and hybrid varieties.
  5. Minnesota1 producerMinnesota's cold climate leaves many wines with high acidity. Varieties developed by the University of Minnesota, including La Crescent and Frontenac, suit off-dry, dessert and ice-style wines.
  6. MississippiNo producers listed yetMississippi's warm, humid conditions favour muscadines, so local wines lean toward muscadine-based styles. These grapes are not cold-hardy and can be injured near 0°F.
  7. MissouriNo producers listed yetNorton/Cynthiana is Missouri's official state grape and central to its red-wine identity. Hermann, Augusta and the Ozark Highlands are among the state's listed appellations.
  8. OhioNo producers listed yetOhio includes wines made in labrusca, hybrid and vinifera styles. Grand River Valley, Loramie Creek and Isle St. George are its listed appellations.
  9. WisconsinNo producers listed yetWisconsin has five distinct wine regions. Within the state, the Driftless Region places more emphasis on traditional grape-wine varieties than the other regions.
Sources for this guide1 source

Sources for this guide are listed below. Featured producers are a selection, not a ranking.

  • World of Wine Atlas and learning records

Where to go next

placeReturn to MidwestSee how Iowa fits within the wider Midwest region.mapSee Iowa in the AtlasSee the area and nearby producers on the map.learningHow place shapes wineSee how climate, landscape and local choices become part of a wine.