Missouri wine makers find themselves researching new ways to make wine.

"It's really beneficial to our industry because making wine in the Midwest and the continental climate the research institute is focusing on has a lot more challenges that are different than the rest of the world," wine maker Cory Bomgaars said.

Bomgaars said research will help.

"More research we can do on the University level on how to benefit the wine making sides of these grapes, the better wines we're going to make," he said.

MU Viticulture Researcher Eli Bergmeier said his research will go towards helping wine makers like Bomgaars.

"It gives us an opportunity to not just evaluate what the fruit quality is from our field experiments, but take it through to the finished product," Bergmeier said.

Bergmeier said as old as wine making is, they should still try to find new ways to make wine. He believes the research will ultimately have one important benefit.

"This is a real opportunity, if it's successful, for growers to really reduce some of their costs of operation," Bergmeier said.

Bomgaars hopes they will also find new economical fruits to make wine with. MU will eventually sell the wine it makes at the University and to alumni. Researchers said proceeds will help pay for experiments and not compete locally.