Grape and Wine Program

Grape and Wine Program

Prior to prohibition, Kentucky was the third largest grape and wine producing state in the nation. Kentucky grape and wine production is now making a comeback. Kentucky has over 113 grape producers growing 583 acres of grapes; 280 acres are ready for production. There are three categories of grapes grown in Kentucky: European, French-American hybrids, and American. Currently, there are over 60 small farm wineries in the commonwealth.

There are many industry associations including the Kentucky Grape and Wine Council, Kentucky Vineyards Society, Kentucky Wine Growers Alliance, Western Kentucky Grape Growers Association, and Northern Kentucky Vineyard and Winery Association.

Got Grapes?

Got Grapes? is a program designed to match grape producers who want to sell grapes to those wishing to buy grapes. If you would like to be placed on this list, please call 502-564-4983.

A list of Kentucky Wineries is attached to allow farmers to contact Kentucky wineries about grapes. It is important that vineyard owners contact wineries in the late winter or early spring to begin plans for marketing their grapes. Winery owners will often want to visit vineyards during the growing season to look at the progress of the grapes. Vineyard owners need to know that the quality of the grapes will ultimately determine the price. Disease, bird damage, or excessive trash (leaves, dirt , etc.) could affect the price even if a price has been agreed upon before hand. Wineries will ask for (require) different parameters and growers will need to monitor those factors as their grapes ripen.

The grower and winery should have a contract that spells out the requirements and conditions in order to protect each, especially if it is a new relationship. Growers who do not have a large enough quantity of grapes, (one ton?) may want to contact other growers of the same grape variety and contract with a winery to buy all. They would need to be harvested and delivered at the same time. Growers are usually responsible for delivery of grapes to the winery.