MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) A community college in Kansas hopes to promote the winery industry in the state.
Highland Community College at Wamego opened a wine incubator called 456 Wineries last month. Director Scott Kohl says Highland received a federal grant in 2016 to start it.
Kohl says 456 Wineries is part of the school’s viticulture, grape-growing program and enology, wine-making program.
Kohl notes the idea is that the wineries move in, pay rent, work on their craft, and then move out to start their own winery.
The Manhattan Mercury reports the facility has a tasting room and space for six winemakers. It also has a laboratory, where things like sugar and acid levels can be tested.
Kohl says he hopes those new, small wineries working closely together will help them grow.
