Minnesota wine refers to
wine made from
grapes grown in the
U.S. state of
Minnesota. Minnesota is part of the largest
American Viticultural Area
An American Viticultural Area (AVA) is a designated wine grape-growing region in the United States, providing an official appellation for the mutual benefit of winery, wineries and consumers. Winemakers frequently want their consumers to know abo ...
(AVA), the
Upper Mississippi River Valley AVA, which includes southwest Wisconsin, southeast Minnesota, northeast Iowa, and northwest Illinois. The state also has a smaller designated American Viticultural Areas, the
Alexandria Lakes AVA. Minnesota is a very cold climate for
viticulture and many
grape varieties require protection from the winter weather by being buried under soil for the season. Minnesota is home to extensive research on cold-hardy
French hybrid and other grape varieties.
The
Minnesota Grape Growers Association (MGGA) is a statewide organization that promotes grape growing and wine making in the state and also in cold-hardy climates. Minnesota is home to the
International Cold Climate Wine Competition (ICCWC) hosted annually in partnership between MGGA and University of Minnesota. This is the only wine competition solely dedicated to the promotion of quality wines made mainly from cold-hardy grape varieties. In 2014, the 6th annual competition saw 284 wines entered from 59 commercial wineries in 11 states. Awards were based on blind tastings by 21 expert judges, who include enologists, wine writers, restaurateurs, retailers, and wine educators.
History
The first modern winery in Minnesota, Northern Vineyards Winery, opened in 1977. In 1973, the first recorded vineyard in Minnesota was planted by David Bailly at Alexis Bailly Vineyard in Hastings, MN. In 1978, Minnesota and Alexis Bailly Vineyard celebrated the production of the first wine commercially produced of 100% Minnesota grapes.
In 1997, only 3 wineries existed in Minnesota.
Today over 40 wineries have commercial operations in Minnesota.
Influence of Elmer Swenson
Horticulturalist
Elmer Swenson
Elmer Swenson (12 December 1913 – 24 December 2004) was a pioneering grape breeder who introduced a number of new cultivars, effectively revolutionizing grape growing in the Upper Midwest of the United States and other cold and short-seasoned ...
created commercially successful, cold-climate varieties in Minnesota including the
Edelweiss and
St. Croix grapes.
Oenology
Oenology (also enology; ) is the science and study of wine and winemaking. Oenology is distinct from viticulture, which is the science of the growing, cultivation, and harvesting of grapes. The English word oenology derives from the Greek word ' ...
programs at the
University of Minnesota developed the
Frontenac grape variety in 1995, and continue to research new hybrids and techniques for grape growing in the state and other cold climate regions.
See also
*
American wine
*
Upper Mississippi Valley AVA
The Upper Mississippi River Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area covering located along the Upper Mississippi River and its tributaries in northwest Illinois, northeast Iowa, southeast Minnesota and southwest Wisconsin. Certified by the U ...
References
{{American wine
Wine regions of the United States by state