Wine lovers: Start a new tradition with Minnesota cold climate wines for your holiday table

This holiday season, grace your table with fruity and delightful cold climate wines made from grapes grown here in Minnesota. Since the 1970s, the University of Minnesota’s research and development of cold-hardy grapes has played an instrumental role in supporting grape growing in cold climates across the globe and building a strong Minnesota wine industry. 

The state is home to about 80 wineries, more than 60 of which currently produce wine. A UMN Extension report shows that Minnesota’s cold-hardy vineyards and wineries pumped more than $80.3 million into the state’s economy and supported more than 10,500 jobs in 2016. 

Start a new tradition this holiday season by visiting local wineries

The best way to find local Minnesota cold climate wines is to buy directly from wineries in your area, since distribution to wine superstores can be difficult and expensive for small businesses. 

• Locate a winery near you—the specific breed of cold climate grape will be listed in wine descriptions. Learn more about the grape varieties through Minnesota Hardy.
• Plan a tasting, in person or at home. Once you’ve located a nearby winery, try samples if they offer tasting events or ask them for pairing recommendations for your holiday menu. You might be interested in the lively, refreshing brilliance of Frontenac gris or the pleasant fruity aroma of La Crescent wine.

Looking for the best of the best? Each year, the Minnesota Grape Growers Association, in partnership with the University of Minnesota, presents the International Cold Climate Wine Competition annually for wine producers making wines from Cold Climate grape and fruit varietals.  As the only competition dedicated to Cold Climate grape varietals, the ICCWC's goal is to recognize the best wines produced in the Cold Climate wine industry. Take a look at this year’s winners to start your shopping list.

About grape breeding at the University of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota Grape Breeding and Enology program is based in the Department of Horticultural Science at the College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences. Most of the grape breeding and evaluation takes place at the Horticultural Research Center at Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska, Minnesota. UMN grape breeding research is also supported by the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station and the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture