September is harvest time for our local grape-growers and it’s an excellent month to head out to the vineyard. You might catch a glimpse of the harvest in progress, and some wineries even organize days for the public to help out. It’s hard work but a satisfying experience—being out amongst the vines on a breezy … [ Read more]
Year in Review: Minnesota Wine & Spirits in 2018
December 3, 2018 by
A martini at Nye’s Bar is a fine drink to reflect on the year 2018 in local spirits. In January, this bar, Nye’s in name only, opened in the dust of the demolished Polonaise Room, a place whose divey charm earned it the Best Bar in America designation from Esquire in 2006—a lifetime ago, from the … [ Read more]
Six local standouts from the 2018 International Cold Climate Wine Competition
August 16, 2018 by
The International Cold Climate Wine Competition yesterday celebrated its 10th year of honoring the finest examples of cold-climate wine in North America. The judging was held at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, and The Growler was among 24 judges charging through hundreds of wines made with grapes that can withstand our extreme climate, several varieties of which … [ Read more]
Carlos Creek Winery’s owners are starting a Viking-themed brewery in Alexandria
June 15, 2018 by
Carlos Creek Winery in Alexandria, Minnesota, has been a destination for wine lovers in the state since 1999. The winery has grown a lot since opening, adding a new production building in 2015, cider in 2016, and, come summer 2019, craft beer under the brand 22 Northmen Brewing. “Many of us at the winery are as … [ Read more]
What We’re Drinking: September 2017
August 30, 2017 by
Welcome back to What We’re Drinking, wherein The Growler editorial staff look back on a recent remarkable beverage. What are you drinking, Growler Nation? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. HammerHeart Brewing Von Winterherz Verhasst – Brian Kaufenberg, Managing Editor Ever wonder what a smoked banana would taste like? While the Lino Lakes brewery is known for … [ Read more]
Cold Climate Wine Competition 2017: La Crescent, Marquette reign supreme
August 18, 2017 by
The Growler was on hand to help judge the 2017 International Cold Climate Wine Competition, which always gives us a good barometer on the state of local wine. The competition is open to any winery using non-Vinifera, cold-hardy grape varieties to make wine, and some of the region’s finest wineries were among the winners this … [ Read more]
Drink these Minnesota-made 2016 gold medal wines
August 29, 2016 by Leave a Comment
The Growler was on hand to help judge the 2016 International Cold Climate Wine Competition. We’ve found that the quality of cold-hardy wines has grown exponentially in the last five or six years. Local wineries are accruing a much better grasp on growing and bottling these new wine grape varieties that are suited to the upper Midwest. Our … [ Read more]
