COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — A University of Missouri researcher says the number of wineries in the state more than tripled over the past decade.

Fabio Chaddad is an assistant professor of agricultural economics. His research on behalf of the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows Missouri had 108, mostly small wineries last year, compared with just 31 wineries in 2000.

The national growth rate is even greater. Chaddad says there are more than 8,000 wineries in the U.S., compared to 1,000 in 1940.

He presented his research at the university's recent Grape and Wine Symposium.