WALKER HOMESTEAD & WINERY
Walker Homestead & Winery, Inc. is an 85-acre farm near Iowa City. The farm produces several foods and wines, raises animals and honey, and grows herbs and flowers and offers a small venue for special celebrations. The business originally started with five acres and has grown exponentially throughout the years. The farm strives to educate guests and allow them to roam the grounds to see how its products are produced and where they come from.
Walker Homestead & Winery’s Choose Iowa grant project will increase wine production capacity utilizing Iowa grown grapes. To meet the increasing demand for its wine, the winery will purchase additional equipment and build a new pack house for cleaning and storing the harvested fruits. This will allow the winery to continue to add value to its Iowa grown grapes by producing more wine and testing brandy. Walker Homestead will also expand its market into retail stores.
The winery expects to increase wine sales and profits by at least $50,000 in 2024 and 2025. Additionally, it expects to increase the number of grapes produced as well as employment opportunities in the business. This project will allow Walker Homestead & Winery to continue to grow its business and build community through agriculture education and culinary delight.
