Nevada winery matures after 15 years of vines research

After years of research and testing, Tahoe Ridge Winery LLC in Genoa has determined its strategic direction for the next 10 years.

"It took 15 years of research to determine which way to go," says Rick Halbardier, chief executive officer and director of winemaking at Tahoe Ridge.

After investing $1 million in research, the company is investing an additional $1 million in 10,000 vines on about 20 acres this year, says Halbardier.

Late this year a 40,000- square-foot winemaking complex will replace the existing 19,000- square-foot facility in Minden.

Tahoe Ridge maintains 12 research vineyards in Nevada,mostly in Carson and Smith valleys but also near Lovelock and in Armagosa Valley near Beatty.

Wine vine survivability research began in 1991, when Halbardier brought 34 varieties of grapes into Nevada.

The research determined which varieties can survive the winters; then those vines spread out.

It then measured sugars and determined which vines can sustain a fruit load.

Then it's on to the winemaking stage, and into consumer taste tests.

Vineyards in Nevada? This high desert climate is far different from balmy California wine country.

Or is it? "Carson Valley is good because it has a diurnal temperature difference," says Halbardier.

Day to night temperatures fluctuate 40 degrees.

Daytime heat develops the carbohydrates, or sugars in the grapes, while cool nights develop the fruit acids.

Carson Valley soils may not be perfect for grapes, but soils can be moderated, the soil's acidity and minerals can be adjusted."Soils off the Sierra shelf, 50 to 60 miles out, can be adapted," says Halbardier.

Onions and alfalfa are the crops currently grown in the Carson Valley, Halbardier says.

"Grapes are highest cash crop in the world, but use one-tenth the water of other crops."

The winery has contracted for research and consulting at Cornell University in New York, University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin,Michigan State University, Lincoln University in Australia and Geisenheim University in Germany.

It had a research program at University of Nevada, Reno, from 1995 to 2000, but found UNR was more interested in bio-engineering, not field testing.

Tahoe Ridge Winery has researched its business model as well."Northern Nevada has a dynamic population base of five million people," says Halbardier.

One million live within a 50-mile radius of Lake Tahoe.

Another four million tourists pass through each year.

"We invest heavily into the tourist segment," he says, with radio ads and promotional inserts distributed to hotels in publications like "Ski Tahoe" and "101 Fun Things To Do in and Around Lake Tahoe".

Outreach includes wine tastings.

The winery gets 450 requests a year to participate in fund-raising events, and pours at 25 to 30 events.

"An estimated 10 percent of the adult population consumes wine on a regular basis.

Another 14 percent drink wine weekly, and the remainder drink at celebratory events," says Halbardier."Tahoe Ridge is the only winery in this market."

When wanting to expand from the saturated California winery market, he saw that neighboring Oregon, Washington and Arizona had already been developed.

Nevada, equally close to California suppliers, had not been tapped.

The Tahoe Ridge business plan predicts 40 to 45 percent of its wine will come from Nevada vineyards, with the remainder from the existing 5,000 acres farmed in California.At present, the winery ships in 1,000 tons of grapes a year from California.

"Out of 34 varietals of grapes tested in Nevada, only five or six proved adaptable and saleable," says Halbardier, who expects to build the brand on uniqueness of Nevada varietals.

"In the next 25 years, we anticipate California wineries will import our grapes, our varietals.

That's what we're going to build our industry on," he says.

Tahoe Ridge Winery holds a 75-year lease on 660 acres of Van Sickle Station Ranch, named for the original Pony Express station.

The company is owned by Rich and Kathy Halbardier, partners Roger and Gail Teig, plus investors.

Kathy Halbardier, director of marketing and hospitality, arranges wine tastings during the warmer months; public events are listed at the Web site www.tahoeridge.com.

Tahoe Ridge Winery labels:

* 2003 Emerald Point , Chardonnay, California

* 2002 Rubicon Point, Red Table Wine California

* 2003 Zephyr Point, Blush Table Wine, California

* 2003, Sauvignon Blanc, Lake County

* 2003, Semillon, Lake County

* 2002, Syrah, Lodi

* 2002, Cabernet Sauvignon, Lodi

* 2002, Old Vine Zinfandel, Lodi

* 2003, Muscat Canelli, Lake County