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Our Goals
Primary Objective: Conserving Nevada’s water resources is CV’s primary objective. CV is working in cooperation with the several entities to identify and grow high valued alternative agriculture crops which consume less water. Test results indicate wine grapes require only 10% of the water used to irrigate alfalfa hay and grain crops. Alfalfa hay and grain crops consume between 1,140,000 and 1,466,000 gallons of water per acre annually. Grape vines grown in CV’s experimental test vineyards consume less than 100,000 gallons of water per acre annually.
Economical Benefits: Establishing a new wine industry will also enhance Nevada’s economy and is expected to create several new business enterprises. Gross revenues generated from hay and grain crops yield $400 to $800 per acre annually, while wine produced from vineyards are expected to generate $5,000 to $10,000 in gross revenues per acre annually. Economic studies in Sonoma, CA wine grape region conclude tourism has a larger impact on Sonoma’s economy than wine sales. Tourists travel to wine regions to taste and purchase wines but spend much more supporting other businesses such as motels, restaurants, clothing stores, novelty shops, mud baths, train rides, bus tours, theater events, etc.
Further Testing: CV has proven fine wine grapes can be grown in Nevada’s high desert area with limited water resources. Fine wine grapes take four to five years to mature. Once vines have fully matured CV will be able to determine production yields. CV is currently working to determine if vines will have consistent yields between 3 and 6 tons per acre. Once yields are reasonably assured, banks will be in a position to make loans to growers interested in planting fine wine grapes.