In Nevada’s dry climate, farmers rely on irrigation water to keep their crops alive. One University of Nevada, Reno professor says farmers can drought stress their crops and get a better quality product. His proof is wine.

Grant Cramer, UNR biochemistry and molecular biology professor, holds wine tastings from both well-watered and drought-stressed vines every Wednesday from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at UNR’s experimental vineyard.

The wine tastings are part of Cramer’s study of how drought stress affects wine quality and the economic viability growing wine grapes in Nevada.

Cramer is studying an effect that has helped French winemakers for years. French growers are prohibited from irrigating their vineyards, which produces a higher-quality grape, Cramer said.

Tasters fill out a survey describing the appearance, aroma, taste and their overall impression of the samples.

“We try to make it fun,” Kitty Spreeman, Cramer’s research associate, said.

It is a vertical tasting, meaning that tasters are given samples from the same vines from different years

The positive effects of drought stress are the most prominent in red wines, Cramer said

"It enhances the flavors in some of them,” he said.

In white wines, it is a matter of opinion.

Drought stress is good for growers because they can use less water and get a better product. Cramer’s research could lead Nevada farmers to convert their fields to vineyards because of the low cost of irrigation and higher value of the crop.

The two-acre experimental vineyard on Valley Road was started in 1995.

The first acre has 12 varieties of grapes and produced its first wine in 1999. The second acre was planted in 2004 and is half chardonnay and half cabernet sauvignon grapes.

Most wine is aged in oak barrels, which lends an element of flavor to the wine, but the oak is not allowed to taint the experimental wine’s flavor. They use steel barrels and glass bottles instead.

The vineyard will be harvesting on Wednesday this week and on Monday and Wednesday next week. They invite the public to participate. Residents can learn tips for their home vineyards, Spreeman said.

“We try to make it fun,” Kitty Spreeman, Cramer’s research associate, said.

It is a vertical tasting, meaning that tasters are given samples from the same vines from different years.

The positive effects of drought stress are the most prominent in red wines, Cramer said.

“It enhances the flavors in some of them,” he said.