A three-year research trial for cold-hardy grapes is wrapping up in Western Montana, but grape growers have formed the Montana Grape and Wine Association to continue their quest to grow grapes in this climate.

Growers approved bylaws for the new association last week during an annual grape conference in Kalispell. The meeting included discussions with national experts on cold-hardy grapes.

“This group will identify where they want to go next,” Montana State University Agriculture Extension Agent Pat McGlynn said about the members of the statewide association. “They’ve been incubated and hatched and they’re now a great group to be able to present their ideas as a unified voice.

“They want to help each other and cooperate between the wineries and growers,” she said. “I’ll continue to write grants and get speakers.”

McGlynn shepherded the cold-hardy grape trials, winning a state agriculture grant that established four plots in 2012 to test 10 wine grape and two table grape varieties. The dozen hybrid varieties were planted at vineyards at Ronan, Yellow Bay, Plains and Kalispell.

The test plot in Ronan was discontinued after the grapes froze.

The research trials have shown the Flathead Valley “is very borderline” for grape production,” McGlynn said. This area has fewer growing days than North Dakota, one of 11 states in the Northern Grapes Project, a parallel study of cold-hardy grapes in northern states.

“The thing we do know and that we have always known is that we can grow grapes around Flathead Lake, but the cherries are already there,” she said. “It is a good avenue for cherry growers who may want to diversify.”

McGlynn had economic development in mind when she launched the grape study here. She had seen the success of the wine industry in the Finger Lakes area of New York where she grew up. Nebraska also has developed a successful wine industry that adds $5.3 million annually to that state’s economy.

Tim Martinson of Cornell University and Harlene Hatterman of North Dakota State University were here for the grape seminar to help growers with questions about pruning, fertilizer and putting the vines on trellises.

Martinson stepped the growers through an analysis of labor and equipment costs if they want to pursue growing grapes for commercial production. He encouraged growers to continue the pursuit of producing cold-hardy grapes and looking at opportunities to build local wineries.

Growers came from the western two-thirds of Montana for the annual seminar.

“It’s a new phase now. They want to be part of this,” McGlynn said. “They’ll identify where they’d like to go next. It’s good to have it producer-driven.”

There was discussion about having an annual harvest festival, with a late winter or early spring conference to keep abreast of production at area vineyards.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.