It’s easy to get cerebral and abstract about wine. But let’s remember one thing: it comes from grapes farmed in a vineyard—it is an agricultural product. And there is perhaps no better reminder of this than the actual grape harvest, which is taking place all over the Northern Hemisphere in these early-to-mid-autumn months. In the … [ Read more]
What Do Minnesota Grapes Taste Like?
August 29, 2019 by
You’ve probably noticed our local wineries don’t grow chardonnay and cabernet grapes like their California cousins. Our wicked continental climate is only suitable for wine grapes engineered to withstand the biting cold. But in the absence of those recognizable grapes, how do you know what flavors to expect from our wines? Here are the four … [ Read more]
Trailblazers 2017: University of Minnesota Grape Breeding and Enology
December 26, 2017 by
This January, when the mercury dips below zero and the snow is blowing across windswept fields in Minnesota, take a moment to consider—in spring, the grape vines at the state’s 60-plus wineries and even more vineyards will begin to bloom again. This fact is due in large part to the University of Minnesota’s grape breeding … [ Read more]
Red Wine 101: The 9 grapes you need to know
November 13, 2017 by
In the late 1970s, a historic pinot noir winery in Oregon had to make cabernet sauvignon from purchased grapes just to pay the bills because, at the time, no one was buying Oregon pinot. They hated doing it because it felt like selling out. But having had the opportunity to taste one of those cabs … [ Read more]
Napa Valley Concludes Earliest Harvest On Record
October 5, 2015 by Leave a Comment
The Napa Valley Grapegrowers released some info on the 2015 crop: The harvest is the earliest on record, with most growers set to finish sometime this week. This thanks to a scorching hot summer—one of the warmest seasons Napa has ever known. The volume of the crop is down, something like 10-20% below average. A … [ Read more]
California wildfires threatening the state’s wine industry
August 11, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Winemakers near California’s precious Napa Valley are worried that smoke from wildfires could affect the flavor of their grapes. “Wines made from grapes exposed to smoke during sensitive growth stages can exhibit aromas and flavors resembling smoked meat, disinfectant, leather, salami and ashtrays,” according to a report on wildfire’s effects on grapes from the Department of Agriculture … [ Read more]
