Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn., (8/18/2016) – After much swishing and spitting, winners have been confirmed at the 2016 International Cold Climate Wine Competition (ICCWC), held today at the University of Minnesota’s Continuing Education Conference Center in St. Paul, MN. The trophy for the best Minnesota grape wine, known as the Minnesota Governor’s Cup, was won by Chankaska Creek Ranch & Winery of Kasota, MN, for their single varietal 2015 La Crescent. The Minnesota Governor’s Cup, a lovely large silver ice bucket, recognizes the “Best of Show” or top prize of all Minnesota gold-winning wines. This is the 8th year the traveling trophy has been awarded. A new award for 2016, “Winery of the Year,” was given to the winery with the best overall showing at the competition, Lincoln Peak Vineyard of New Haven, VT. Lincoln Peak also took Best of Show or top prize in the Specialty/Fortified Wine category with their 2014 late harvest dessert wine “Firelight,” a blend of La Crescent and Frontenac Gris.

Winehaven Winery and Vineyard of Chisago City, MN, took Best of Show in the red wine category for their 2014 Marquette Reserve. The Best of Show award for rosé wines was won for the second year in a row by Shelburne Vineyard of Shelburne, VT, for their 2015 “Whimsey Meadow Rosé,” a Marquette-based blend from cold-climate grapes. The Best of Show award for white wines was won by Two Rivers Vineyard & Winery of Ramsey, MN, for their Frontenac Gris.

This year’s competition included 354 wines from 64 commercial wineries in 13 states and Canada. Awards were based on blind tastings by 20 expert judges, who include enologists, wine writers, restaurateurs, retailers, and wine educators. Three-judge panels determined the initial medals, with the top-scoring Best of Show wines evaluated by five-judge panels and all 20 judges determined the Minnesota Governor’s Cup award.

The ICCWC is a partnership between the Minnesota Grape Growers Association and the University of Minnesota, which developed several of the cold-hardy grapes used to make the wines in the competition. This competition is the only one exclusively dedicated to wines made from cold-hardy grape varieties that can withstand the winters known to the Upper Midwest, North East, and parts of Canada. The main goals of the ICCWC are to educate the world about these grape varieties and encourage enology practices that will produce high quality and highly marketable wines. The competition is coordinated by Gordon Rouse, AWS Certified Judge, of the Minnesota Grape Growers Association (MGGA), Gary Gardner, Professor of Horticultural Science in the University’s College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, Matt Clark, Assistant Professor of Grape Breeding and Enology in the Department of Horticultural Science, and Aaron Berdofe and Jay Growkowsky, Members of the MGGA’s Board of Directors. Sponsors include the BSG Wine, Double A Vineyards, Clements Lumber of Morgan, MN, the law firm of Winthrop & Weinstine of Minneapolis,MN, and the accounting firm of Baumann Associates.

The competition is open to commercial wineries meeting the criteria for cold-hardy grape and fruit content. In 2016 a total of 17 Double Gold, 36 Gold, 116 Silver, and 82 Bronze medals were awarded. In addition, “Best of Show” designations were awarded to wines rated as the finest in the available categories. Medal winners and competition judges are listed below.

The Less Familiar Grape Names of Cold Climate Regions
The grape varieties that most wine drinkers are familiar with: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, and the like grow wonderfully under a multitude of conditions as long the winters do not get too cold. Despite the fact that the Twin Cities are at approximately the same line of latitude as Bordeaux [44.9° to 44.8° respectively], famous wine regions like Bordeaux do not have winters with temperatures that consistently sit below 0° F. At these temperatures, the vines of European varieties would perish. Native American grape varieties found in the northern states do survive our winters though. Therefore, instead of spending thousands of years breeding our native grapes to create ones that produce wines we enjoy as was done with the European varieties, we are cross-breeding the native varieties with the European ones to produce grapes that not only survive the winters, but taste good as well. The names of these hybrids are what you will find on the wine labels in Minnesota and numerous other cold climate regions.

Winery of the Year

Lincoln Peak Vineyard – New Haven, VT

Best of Show Wines

Red – Winehaven – Chisago City, MN – 2014 Marquette
White – Two Rivers – Ramsey, MN – Frontenac Gris
Rose- Shelburne Vineyard – Shelburne, VT – Whimsey Meadow Rosé
Specialty – Lincoln Peak Vineyard – New Haven, VT – 2014 Firelight
Governor’s Cup – Chankaska Creek Ranch & Winery – Kasota, MN – 2015 La Crescent

Medal Winners

Double Gold

Carlos Creek Winery – 2013 Petite Pearl, Alexandria, MN
Chankaska Creek Ranch & Winery – 2015 Kasota Rose, Kasota, MN
Coyote Moon Vineyards – 012 Frontenac, Clayton, NY
Feather River Vineyards – 2015 Ambiance North Platte, NE
Grovedale Winery – 2014 North Branch, Wyalusing, PA
Illinois Sparkling Co. – 2013 Brut, Peru, IL
Illinois Sparkling Co. 2013 Stereo Peru, IL
Leigh’s Garden Winery, Inc. – 2015 Frontenac, Escanaba, MI
Lincoln Peak Vineyard – 2014 Limestone, New Haven, VT
Lincoln Peak Vineyard – 2014 Firelight, New Haven, VT
North Branch Vineyards – 2015 Frontenac, Montpelier, VT
North Branch Vineyards – 2015 Miss Maeve, Montpelier, VT
Shelburne Vineyard – 2015 La Crescent, Shelburne, VT
Shelburne Vineyard – 2015 Whimsey Meadow Rose, Shelburne, VT
White Winter Winery – NV Eiszider, Iron River, WI
Winehaven Winery – 2014 Marquette Reserve, Chisago City, MN
Winehaven Winery – NV Strawberry-Rhubarb Wine, Chisago City, MN

Gold

Cannon River Winery – 2014 Family Reserve, Red Cannon Falls, MN
Carlos Creek Winery – 2015 Frontenac Blanc, Alexandria, MN
Cellar 426 Winery – 2015 Blue Jay Edelweiss ,Ashland, NE
Cellar 426 Winery – 2015 Sweet ‘n Sexy, Ashland, NE
Chankaska Creek Ranch & Winery – 2015 La Crescent, Kasota, MN
Coyote Moon Vineyards – 2015 Twisted Sister, Clayton, NY
Crow River Winery – NV Red Porch, Hutchinson, MN
Dancing Dragonfly Winery – 2012 Christine’s Twist, St. Croix Falls, WI
Danzinger Vineyards – 2015 Danzinger Red, Alma, WI
Danzinger Vineyards – 2015 Danzinger White, Alma, WI
Danzinger Vineyards – 2015 Waumandee White, Alma, WI
Door 44 Winery – NV Cellar Door, Sturgeon Bay, WI
Elmaro Vineyard – 2015 Elmaro Delicious, Trempealeau, WI
Feather River Vineyards – 2015 Red Neck Blush, North Platte, NE
Four Daughters Vineyard and Winery – 2014 Frontenac Gris, Spring Valley, MN
Grape Mill Vineyard and Winery – NV Brianna, East Grand Forks, MN
Grovedale Winery – 2013 Heritage, Wyalusing, PA
InnSpiration Vines & Wines – 2014 Apple Razz, Linn Grove, IA
Lincoln Peak Vineyard – 2015 Black Sparrow, New Haven, VT
Lincoln Peak Vineyard – 2014 Cassis, New Haven, VT
Lincoln Peak Vineyard – 2014 Marquette, New Haven, VT
Millner Heritage Vineyard & Winery – 2013 Draga, Dassel, MN
North Folk Winery – 2015 La Crescent Wine, Harris, MN
Parallel 44 Vineyard and Winery – NV Drink Pink, Kewaunee, WI
Parallel 44 Vineyard and Winery – NV La Crescent Moscato, Kewaunee, WI
Parallel 44 Vineyard and Winery – NV Glacier Fume, Kewaunee, WI
Parley Lake Winery – NV Brianna Breeze, Waconia, MN
Parley Lake Winery – 2015 Frontenac Gris, Waconia, MN
Saint Croix Vineyards – 2015 La Crescent, Stillwater, MN
Savage Oakes Vineyard and Winery – 2012 Nor’Easter, Union, ME
Tassel Ridge Winery – NV Candleglow Red ,Leighton, IA
Tug Hill Vineyards – 2015 Prairie Star, Lowville, NY
Two Rivers Vineyard & Winery – NV Frontenac Gris, Ramsey, MN
Two Rivers Vineyard & Winery – NV Raspberry Wine, Ramsey, MN
Wild Mountain Winery, Inc. – 2013 Arrowhead Red, Taylors Falls, MN
Winehaven Winery – 2015 Edelweiss, Chisago City, MN

Silver

Cannon River Winery – 2015 Minnesota Marquette, Cannon Falls, MN
Cannon River Winery – 2015 Minnesota St. Pepin, Cannon Falls, MN
Cannon River Winery – 2014 Family Reserve White, Cannon Falls, MN
Cannon River Winery – 2015 Sparkle Edelweiss, Cannon Falls, MN
Carlos Creek Winery – NV Vintner’s Blend, Alexandria, MN
Carlos Creek Winery – 2015 Apple, Alexandria, MN
Carlos Creek Winery – 2014 Frontenac, Alexandria, MN
Carlos Creek Winery – 2015 Frontenac Rose, Alexandria, MN
Carlos Creek Winery – 2015 Apple Blueberry, Alexandria, MN
Carlos Creek Winery – 2015 Apple Hopper, Alexandria, MN
Casa Breton Inc. – 2013 Bleu d’Aout, St-Henri, QC
Casa Breton Inc. – 2015 Le Leger, St-Henri, QC
Casa Breton Inc. – 2015 Le Celeste, St-Henri, QC
Chankaska Creek Ranch & Winery – 2015 Frontenac, Kasota, MN
Chankaska Creek Ranch & Winery – 2015 Marquette, Kasota, MN
Chankaska Creek Ranch & Winery – 2015 Petite Colline, Kasota, MN
Chankaska Creek Ranch & Winery – NV Coeur de Colline, Kasota, MN
Chateau St. Croix Winery – NV Chateau Rose, Saint Croix Falls, WI
Chateau St. Croix Winery – 2015 Wisconsin White, Saint Croix Falls, WI
Chateau St. Croix Winery – NV Marco V Vintage, Saint Croix Falls, WI
Cold Country Vines & Wines, LLC – 2014 Pearl, Kewaune, WI
Crow River Winery – NV Edelweiss, Hutchinson, MN
Crow River Winery – NV Township, Hutchinson, MN
Dancing Dragonfly Winery – 2015 Lindy, St. Croix Falls, WI
Dancing Dragonfly Winery – 2015 Christine’s Foxtrot, St. Croix Falls, WI
Dancing Dragonfly Winery – 2015 Promenade, St. Croix Falls, WI
Dancing Dragonfly Winery – 2015 Charleston, St. Croix Falls, WI
Danzinger Vineyards – 2015 Sweet Alma, Red Alma, WI
Door 44 Winery – NV Red Door, Sturgeon Bay, WI
Door 44 Winery – NV M, Sturgeon Bay, WI
Door 44 Winery – NV Sparkler, Sturgeon Bay, WI
Door 44 Winery – NV Bubbler, Sturgeon Bay, WI
Duck Creek Vineyard and Winery – 2015 Marquette, Denmark, WI
Duck Creek Vineyard and Winery – 2015 Edelweiss- Denmark, WI
Elmaro Vineyard – 2015 Tra La La, Trempealeau, WI
Elmaro Vineyard – 2015 The Fire of 1888, Trempealeau, WI
Falconer Vineyards – 2015 FV Frontenac Rose, Red Wing, MN
Falconer Vineyards – 2014 Hunters Red, Red Wing, MN
Falconer Vineyards – 2015 Snowy White, Red Wing, MN
Four Daughters Vineyard and Winery – 2014 La Crescent, Spring Valley, MN
Four Daughters Vineyard and Winery – 2014 Marquette, Spring Valley, MN
Four Daughters Vineyard and Winery – 2014 Chad’s Folly, Spring Valley, MN
Galena Cellars – NV Eric the Red, Galena, IL
Galena Cellars – 2015 Marquette, Galena, IL
Grovedale Winery – 2014 Marquette, Wyalusing, PA
Illinois Sparkling Co. – 2013 Dollface Rose, Peru, IL
Indian Island Winery – 2012 Napin-Nagi, Janesville, MN
Indian Island Winery – 2015 Island Smoke, Janesville, MN
Indian Island Winery – 2015 Maiden Blush, Janesville, MN
Indian Island Winery – 2015 St. Croix, Janesville, MN
InnSpiration Vines & Wines – 2015 Last Dance, Linn Grove, IA
Lake Pepin Winery – 2015 Frontenac, Lake City, MN
Leigh’s Garden Winery, Inc. – 2014 Marechal Foch, Escanaba, MI
Leigh’s Garden Winery, Inc. – 2015 Old Escanaba, Escanaba, MI
Lincoln Peak Vineyard – 2015 Sycamore, New Haven, VT
Lincoln Peak Vineyard – 2015 Ragtime White, New Haven, VT
Lincoln Peak Vineyard – 2015 Marquette, New Haven, VT
Mackinaw Valley Vineyard, Ltd. – 2015 Edelweiss, Mackinaw, IL
Miletta Vista Winery – 2014 Legacy, St. Paul, NE
Millner Heritage Vineyard & Winery – 2013 Rona, Dassel, MN
Millner Heritage Vineyard & Winery – 2015 Minnesota Crisp, Dassel, MN
North Branch Vineyards – 2015 La Crescent, Montpelier, VT
North Folk Winery – 2013 Marquette Wine, Harris, MN
Northern Flow Vineyards – NV Marechal Foch, Clayton, NY
Northern Flow Vineyards – NV Marquette, Clayton, NY
Northern Hollow Winery – 2015 Edelweiss, Grasston, MN
Northern Hollow Winery – 2015 Viking, Grasston, MN
Parallel 44 Vineyard and Winery – NV Icewine, Kewaunee, WI
Parley Lake Winery – 2015 Barn Quilt Red, Waconia, MN
Parley Lake Winery – 2015 Marquette, Waconia, MN
Parley Lake Winery – 2012 Frontenac Dessert Wine, Waconia, MN
Parley Lake Winery – 2012 Frontenac Limited Edition, Waconia, MN
Prairie State Winery – 2015 Racey, Genoa, IL
Round Lake Vineyards & Winery – 2015 St. Pepin, Round Lake, MN
Round Lake Vineyards & Winery – 2015 2015 Brianna, Round Lake, MN
Round Lake Vineyards & Winery – 2014 2014 Marquette Reserve, Round Lake, MN
Savage Oakes Vineyard and Winery – 2014 Barn Red, Union, ME
Schram Vineyards – 2014 Coop de Blanc, Waconia, MN
Schram Vineyards – 2015 Blossom, Waconia, MN
Schram Vineyards – 2015 Blush, Waconia, MN
Shelburne Vineyard – 2014 Marquette Reserve, Shelburne, VT
Shelburne Vineyard – 2014 Single Barrel Marquette, Shelburne, VT
Shelburne Vineyard – 2015 White Blend, Shelburne, VT
Shelburne Vineyard – 2015 Celestial Louise, Shelburne, VT
Shelburne Vineyard – 2015 Wild Louise, Shelburne, VT
Summerset Winery – 2013 Iowa Frontenac, Indianola, IA
Summerset Winery – 2015 Edelweiss, Indianola, IA
Summerset Winery – 2015 Iowa Swenson Red, Indianola, IA
Table Mountain Vineyards, LLC – 2014 Wyoming Gold, Huntley, WY
Tassel Ridge Winery – NV Candleglow White, Leighton, IA
The Cape Winery – NV Frontenac Rose, Cape Vincent, NY
The Champlain Wine Company – 2013 Marquette, Plattsburgh, NY
The Winery at Kirkwood – 2015 Master’s Cuvee, Cedar Rapids, IA
The Winery at Kirkwood – 2015 Master’s Cuvee Blanc, Cedar Rapids ,IA
The Winery at Kirkwood – 2015 Foch Dessert Wine, Cedar Rapids, IA
Tongue River Winery – 2015 Warm Front, Miles City, MT
Tongue River Winery – 2015 Marquette, Miles City, MT
Tug Hill Vineyards – 2014 Cuvee Rose, Lowville, NY
Tug Hill Vineyards – 2015 La Crescent, Lowville, NY
Tug Hill Vineyards – NV White Out, Lowville ,NY
Two Rivers Vineyard & Winery – NV High Pines, Ramsey, MN
Villa Bellezza Winery and Vineyards – 2014 Tavola White, Pepin, WI
Villa Bellezza Winery and Vineyards – 2015 Dolce White, Pepin, WI
Villa Bellezza Winery and Vineyards – 2015 La Crescent, Pepin, WI
Villa Bellezza Winery and Vineyards – 2015 St. Pepin, Pepin, WI
Villa Bellezza Winery and Vineyards – 2012 Terra Reserve, Pepin, WI
Vines & Rushes Winery – 2015 Marquette, Ripon, WI
Vines & Rushes Winery – 2015 Brianna, Ripon, WI
Wild Mountain Winery, Inc. – 2015 La Crescent ,Taylors Falls, MN
Wild Mountain Winery, Inc. – 2015 Frontenac Rose, Taylors Falls, MN
Winehaven Winery – 2015 La Crescent, Chisago City, MN
Winehaven Winery – NV Deer Garden Blush, Chisago City, MN
Wolf Creek Winery – NV Wolf Creek Frontenac, Coleharbor, ND
Wollersheim Winery – 2015 Eagle White, Prairie du Sac, WI

Bronze

Carlos Creek Winery – 2015 Petite Amie, Alexandria, MN
Carlos Creek Winery – 2015 Harvest White, Alexandria, MN
Carlos Creek Winery – 2015 Apple Cranberry, Alexandria, MN
Casa Breton Inc. – 2014 Le Blanc de Pommes, St-Henri, QC
Cellar 426 Winery – 2014 Big Bold Red, Ashland, NE
Cellar 426 Winery – 2015 Linoma Lighthouse, Ashland, NE
Chateau St. Croix Winery – NV Helga’s Red, Saint Croix Falls, WI
Coyote Moon Vineyards – 2013 Perpetua, Clayton, NY
Coyote Moon Vineyards – 2014 Dry La Crescent, Clayton, NY
Cracked Barrel Winery – 2015 Scion, Hudson, WI
Crow River Winery – NV Apiary, Hutchinson, MN
Dancing Dragonfly Winery – 2014 Christine’s CanCan, St. Croix Falls, WI
Dancing Dragonfly Winery – 2014 Sashay, St. Croix Falls, WI
Danzinger Vineyards – 2015 Marquette, Alma, WI
Danzinger Vineyards – 2015 Golden Sunrise, Alma, WI
Danzinger Vineyards – 2015 River Paradise, Alma, WI
Danzinger Vineyards – 2015 Late Harvest St. Pepin, Alma, WI
Door 44 Winery – NV Pink Door, Sturgeon Bay, WI
Duck Creek Vineyard and Winery – 2015 Root Beer Mead, Denmark, WI
Flower Valley Vineyard – 2015 La Crescent, Red Wing, MN
Flower Valley Vineyard – 2015 Cranberry, Red Wing, MN
Fox Valley Winery – NV Brianna, Oswego, IL
Fresh Tracks Farm Vineyard & Winery – 2012 La Crescent, Berlin, VT
Fresh Tracks Farm Vineyard & Winery – 2014 Frontenac Gris, Berlin, VT
Grape Mill Vineyard and Winery – NV Frontenac Gris, East Grand Forks, MN
Grovedale Winery – 2013 Marquette, Wyalusing, PA
Grovedale Winery – 2014 Desert Rose, Wyalusing, PA
Indian Island Winery – 2013 Dancing Spirit, Janesville, MN
Indian Island Winery – 2013 St. Pepin, Janesville, MN
Indian Island Winery – 2015 Frontenac Rose, Janesville, MN
InnSpiration Vines & Wines – 2015 Frontenac, Linn Grove, IA
Lake Pepin Winery – 2015 Belles’ Bree, Lake City, MN
Leigh’s Garden Winery, Inc. – 2015 Marquette, Escanaba, MI
Leigh’s Garden Winery, Inc. – 2015 Backyard Apple, Escanaba, MI
Lincoln Peak Vineyard – 2015 Starlight, New Haven, VT
Lincoln Peak Vineyard – 2015 La Crescent, New Haven, VT
Miletta Vista Winery – 2015 Vacation, St. Paul, NE
Miletta Vista Winery – 2015 Edelweiss, St. Paul, NE
Millner Heritage Vineyard & Winery – 2015 Neuhaus, Dassel, MN
Millner Heritage Vineyard & Winery – 2015 Sechs, Dassel, MN
Millner Heritage Vineyard & Winery – 2015 Mein Onkel, Dassel, MN
Millner Heritage Vineyard & Winery – 2015 What The Foch, Dassel, MN
Millner Heritage Vineyard & Winery – 2015 Gemutlichkeit, Dassel, MN
North Folk Winery – 2014 Two Springers Blackberry Dessert Wine, Harris, MN
North Folk Winery – 2014 Blackberry Wine, Harris, MN
North Folk Winery – 2014 Strawberry Wine, Harris, MN
Northern Hollow Winery – 2015 Brianna, Grasston, MN
Northern Hollow Winery – 2015 Rhubarb-Razzberry, Grasston, MN
Northern Hollow Winery – 2015 Razzberry, Grasston, MN
Parallel 44 Vineyard and Winery – NV Vintners Reserve, Kewaunee, WI
Parallel 44 Vineyard and Winery – NV La Crescent, Kewaunee, WI
Parley Lake Winery – 2015 Frontenac Blanc, Waconia, MN
Prairie State Winery – 2015 Marquette, Genoa, IL
Saint Croix Vineyards – 2013 Marquette, Stillwater, MN
Shelburne Vineyard – 2015 Harvest Widow’s Revenge, Shelburne, VT
Tassel Ridge Winery – 2013 Iowa Marquette, Leighton, IA
Tassel Ridge Winery – NV Iowa Cuvee 220, Leighton, IA
Ten Spoon Vineyard + Winery – NV Flathead Cherry Dry, Missoula, MT
The Cape Winery – NV La Crescent, Cape Vincent, NY
The Winery at Kirkwood – 2015 Edelweiss, Cedar Rapids, IA
The Winery at Kirkwood – 2015 La Madeleiina, Cedar Rapids, IA
The Winery at Kirkwood – 2015 Aronia Berry Dessert Wine, Cedar Rapids, IA
Three Oak Wines – 2015 Frontenac Gris, Albert Lea, MN
Three Oak Wines – 2014 Marquette Reserve, Albert Lea, MN
Tug Hill Vineyards – 2013 Marquette, Lowville, NY
Tug Hill Vineyards – 2014 Marquette, Lowville, NY
Tug Hill Vineyards – 2015 Marquette, Lowville, NY
Tug Hill Vineyards – 2015 Marquette Rose, Lowville, NY
Tug Hill Vineyards – 2015 Black Ice, Lowville, NY
Two Rivers Vineyard & Winery – NV North Shore Red, Ramsey, MN
Two Rivers Vineyard & Winery – NV Granny’s Favorite, Ramsey, MN
Two Rivers Vineyard & Winery – NV Rhubarb Wine, Ramsey, MN
Two Rivers Vineyard & Winery – NV Marquette, Ramsey, MN
Villa Bellezza Winery and Vineyards – NV Fortaleza, Pepin, WI
White Winter Winery – NV Bois Brule Hopped Cider, Iron River, WI
White Winter Winery – NV Oakwood Hard Cider, Iron River, WI
Wild Mountain Winery, Inc. – 2015 Mountain Sweet White, Taylors Falls, MN
Wild Mountain Winery, Inc. – 2013 Wild River Red, Taylors Falls, MN

Competition Judges

• David J. Anderson Partner Emeritus, France 44 Wines & Spirits
• Bradley Beam Enology Specialist, Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association
• Ellie Butz Lallemand Wine, Technical Representative
• Matt Carson Wine Professional, North Loop Wine and Spirits
• Katie Cook Enologist, Scott Laboratories
• Scott Davis Toast Wine Bar and Cafe; Co-Owner, 45th Parallel Distillery; Distiller
• Murli Dharmadhikari Director, Midwest Grape and Wine Industry Institute, Iowa State University
• John Garland Senior Editor at The Growler Magazine
• Michael Grabner Sommelier, CWP, Kowalski’s Wine Shop Manager
• Mark Hart Owner, Mt. Ashwabay Vineyard & Orchard
• Jason Kallsen Founder and owner of Twin Cities Wine Education, VineThinking wine business blog, The Flying Grape Wine Tours, and Wine Pros of Minnesota
• Dan Keyport Owner, Dolce Vita Wine Shop
• Ross Otto Wine Educator, Northern Lights Wine Club, Aitkin, MN
• Peter Plaehn Sommelier, JW Marriott Minneapolis Mall of America
• Harvey Reissig Emeritus Professor, Cornell University; Wine Writer and Educator
• Chad Stoltenberg Certified Executive Sommelier, Certified Wine Instructor, International Wine and Spirits Guild
• Jennifer Thull Assistant Vineyard Manager, University of Minnesota’s Horticultural Research Center
• Dave White Owner, Midwest Wine Analytics, LLC
• Lynn White WI State Coordinator for Viticulture & Enology, Science & Technology Alliance (VESTA/NWTC)
• Steve Young CSW – Director, Alabama Commercial Wine Competition

History

Grape growing and winemaking has been a part of just about every state’s history starting when European settlers began arriving. In the northern states though, European grape varieties never fared well. It wasn’t until the 1970s that successes from notable Wisconsin grape breeder, Elmer Swenson and the University of Minnesota showed that cold climate grape growing and winemaking could be a viable industry. In 1976 the MN Grape Growers Association was formed. Two years later, the first vineyard exclusively growing cold hardy grapes was established. The Minnesota Legislature soon recognized this potential and in 1985, they directed the University of Minnesota specifically to research grape growing and wine production in cold climates. In 1996, the University released Frontenac, its first truly cold-hardy grape variety which has since been followed by numerous others including La Crescent, Frontenac Gris, Marquette, and, earlier this year, Itasca. Over the years, the University of Minnesota has been recognized as having one of the top wine grape research programs in the United States. The contribution to the economy of the industry was estimated at $59 million in 2011 and has continued to grow (even through cold winters) ever since.

There are currently over 70 registered wine producers and blenders in the state of Minnesota. The number of wine producers in the state has nearly doubled in recent years and is expected to continue to grow.