So you’ve decided to make the leap from amateur to professional winemaker. Your fondness has grown so great for the prominent stone fruit flavors of La Crescent or the well-balanced Itasca, that you’ve been coaxed into putting your name onto a bottle and getting it into the hands of grape-indulgent gallivants. The road to professional … [ Read more]
AxeBridge Wine Company opening in Minneapolis’ North Loop next spring
December 3, 2019 by
Ashley and Aaron Schram of Schram Vineyards Winery and Brewery build their vision for a new urban winery It’s been a busy year for Ashley and Aaron Schram, the owners of Schram Vineyards in Waconia, Minnesota’s first combination winery and brewery. The Schrams launched their modern German-inspired beer hall and brewery Schram Haus this spring, … [ 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]
Lawsuit challenges locally grown mandate in Minnesota wine
March 29, 2017 by Leave a Comment
The Institute for Justice, joined by Alexis Bailly Vineyards of Hastings, and Next Chapter Winery of New Prague, announced yesterday a lawsuit that will challenge the language of Minnesota’s statutes for farm winery licenses. Currently, the statute mandates that Minnesota wineries must use a majority of Minnesota-grown grapes in their yearly winemaking output. The lawsuit … [ Read more]
Cannon River Winery plans expansion to double wine production
October 4, 2016 by Leave a Comment
The saying goes that if you’re a Midwest winery, you’re in the wedding business first and the wine business second. Cannon River Winery of Cannon Falls, already one of the biggest wineries in Minnesota, has announced expansion plans that solidify the first goal and make serious efforts with the second. The winery was acquired by Ron Stowell, founder of … [ Read more]
Celebrate the harvest at these 10 Minnesota wineries
September 19, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Across Minnesota, the nights are getting cooler, the days are getting shorter, and grapes are ripening on their vines as harvest season pushes summer out the door. All the hours spent tending to their vineyards come to fruition at harvest and beyond for Minnesota vintners, so it’s no wonder many of them mark this time of … [ Read more]
U of M releases “Itasca,” a new white grape for dry wines
April 6, 2016 by Leave a Comment
The University of Minnesota’s grape breeding program has released a new variety. Itasca, the fifth-cold hardy variety released by the U of M since 1999, has high sugar levels but lower acidity, making it a prime candidate to be vinified as a dry wine. The U of M’s previous white varieties, La Crescent and Frontenac … [ Read more]
Drink local wine this winter with the Minnesota Wine Passport
January 13, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Minnesota’s local wine industry has skyrocketed to over 70 wineries in a short period of time. Many are open year-round and now’s the time to visit to avoid the huge crowds. If you like the look of snow-covered vines, but would still rather be drinking inside, then perhaps the Minnesota Wine Passport is your ticket … [ Read more]
2015 International Cold Climate Wine Competition
August 20, 2015 by Leave a Comment
The very best in cold climate wine was sipped, spit and judged in St. Paul on Tuesday. The results are in for the 2015 International Cold Climate Wine Competition, and The Growler was there to taste it all. Here’s all you need to know: 2015 Winners and Standouts MN Governor’s Cup (Best MN Wine) and Best … [ Read more]
Thoughts on the 2014 Int’l Cold Climate Wine Competition
August 22, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Judging the International Cold Climate Wine Competition always gives me a nice baseline to gauge the state of the local wine industry. Herein, a few thoughts on local wine following the 2014 competition: 1. Dry Whites are improving: The Achilles heel for the cold climate wine industry has been development of a white grape that’s well … [ Read more]
