Homepage photo: John Thull and Katie Cook of the University of Minnesota. Visiting the University of Minnesota Research Center, I was surprised to see vinifera growing in the vineyard. What are all those old...
Two projects are underway in the Midwest to test and expand the use of mechanical grape vine pruning. One project in Wisconsin will evaluate mechanical rough pruning for cold climate hybrids. Another research project...
A new hybrid red wine, Petite Pearl, is now in production at several Midwest wineries and should be available soon. 2012 will be the first commercial vintage of Petite Pearl. Previously, only test samples...
The Northern Grapes Project (NGP) has released its one year progress report. NGP involves institutions in 12 states and 19 regional wine and grape organizations, many in the Midwest. “It is the first project of...
Marquette, the cold-hardy hybrid grape planted across the Midwest, has wowed a panel of Napa wine experts. The California based online wine publication, Appellation America, gathered a panel to taste Marquette wines from 11...
Midwest Wine Press spoke recently with Nick Smith at the University of Minnesota (U of M.) Nick is well-known in the region because, over the course of a year, he probably makes more different...
The Minnesota Farm Winery Association (MNFWA) just launched its first website at www.MNWine.org according to MNFWA Secretary Amy Abt. According at Abt, the primary goal of the Minnesota Farm Winery Association website is to inspire year-round...
When the early members of the Minnesota Grape Growers Association (MGGA) first experimented with wine grapes in the early 1970’s, all the vines were cold tender or marginal at best. Foch stood out as...
The 2011 LaCrescent from Four Daughters Vineyard and Winery in Spring Valley, MN won the Governor’s Cup at the 2012 International Cold Climate Competition in St. Paul. The Minnesota Governor’s Cup, a large silver...
With over 50% of Americans now having smartphones, Midwest wineries are finding QR codes help them engage with their customers both in retail stores and at their wineries. The Midwest wine industry is seeing...