Midwest Wine Stroll Photos and People’s Choice Winners
The Cold Climate Conference Midwest Wine Stroll took place on Friday, February 22nd as part of the 2013 Cold Climate Conference. The Midwest Wine Stroll is the largest indoor wine tasting in the Midwest with 554 attendees this year.
2013 marks the 100th birthday of Minnesota wine legend Elmer Swenson. Many wineries at the Wine Stroll were pouring Elmer’s creations like St. Pepin, La Crosse and Brianna. Wild Mountain Winery won the People’s Choice Award for Best Elmer Swenson Variety for its Mountain Sweet White.
One of the most popular wines at the event was Marquette, developed at the University of Minnesota where Elmer worked in the experimental vineyard. Perhaps the biggest news at the Wine Stroll was the taste of new cultivar Frontenac blanc, a white-fruited mutation of Frontenac and Frontenac gris.
In all, 20 wineries from the upper Midwest poured for guests at the Wine Stroll. Eleven food exhibitors also participated including Shepard’s Way Farms (cheese) in Nerstrand and Locust Lane Vineyard (verjus almonds) in Little Canada.
The People’s Choice Award for best booth went to Nicole Dietman and Buffalo Rock Winery
Steve Parley, Steve Boyd and Seth Reid of Parley Lake Winery with the People’s Choice Award for Best Dessert Wine
Irv Geary of Wild Mountain Winery and Amy Abt of Minnesota Farm Winery Association
Laura and Todd Roessler of Elmaro Vineyard and Precision Wine Bottling
Cathy Walden and Don Crofut of Crofut Family Winery
Kristin and Justin Osborne of FourDaughters Winery
Penny Aquirre and Michelle Wang of Richwood Winery
Angie Netzke of Indian Island Winery
Jason Kruger of Millner Heritage Vineyard & Winery
Ron & Kimberly Wothe of Glacial Ridge Winery
Jarred McCarthy of Cannon River Winery
