IN SEARCH OF ELMER SWENSONTo the left is Peter Hemstad, Viticulturalist at the University Horticultural Research Centre (HRC) and to the right is winemaker Anna Katharine Mansfield of the University HRC.
Tom Plocher, trip organizer and co-author of the new book Northern Winework had left for us. We then we followed earlier instructions and arrived in good time at the Horticultural Research Centre of the University of Minnesota. We knew we were in the right place when we spotted Quebec license plates... Joining us at this point was 
Howard Krosch, a truly unique character who is a member of the board of directors of the Minnesota Winegrowers Cooperative and Northern Vineyards Winery.We were taken on an informative tour by Viticulturalist Peter Hemstad who showed us many varieties that soon had us drooling. Most of the interesting varieties we saw were practically ripe before the end of August, and had great flavours and good acid/sugar balances. The most interesting vines were La Crescent, Minnesota 1180 and Minnesota 1177. The Frontenac and Frontenac Gris were also very interesting. Frontenac has now been released in Canada, but the rest are likely many years away. Sad, as they will make very good wine. Minnesota 1180 and 1177 will have their place in heavy reds, and both La Crescent and Frontenac Gris could make single-varietal off-dry wines in a Germanic style.
Click the picture for closer evidencePeter was allowing everyone to taste all the varieties, but made a point of asking us not to touch the one bunch of frontenac gris as he wanted to take a picture of this nearly-perfect bunch. Frontenac gris is a white (pink) mutation of Frontenac that may eventually have a place in Central Ontario (It sure tastes great to me!). It has survived many mishaps to date, as Peter can relate.
Bryan the Bad claims he didn't hear Peter's request, and as soon as Peter was looking at the next vine, Bryan "swooped down" upon the perfect bunch and bird-damage (Pell-I-can-so) ocurred. We grow our birds big in Canada. But the evidence is there to see...
Peter caught Bryan with the grapes in his hand, and asked "Do I have to put guards on it? Bryan, reverting to the Good Dr. Pell, meekly said "Here sir, you can have them back". You just had to be there!
We tasted a number of varieties, most interestingly a sweet Frontenac Gris and a heavy Minnesota 1180. After the tour and tasting, we headed our separate ways, intending to meet for dinner.
The dinner was the low point of the trip. We, nine of us, went to the Freight House in Stillwater, which is just up the street from Northern Vineyards Winery on the shore of the St. Croix River. It is a nice place, with a good location, great friendly staff and good food, but two things jarred me. First, they took an automatic tip from groups of 8 or more (they would have done better by me otherwise). Secondly, and most importantly, in a small, tourism oriented town with TWO wineries (St. Croix being the other) they had ZERO selection of Minnesota wine. In protest, I refused to have ANY alcoholic beverage with my meal, and no wine was served at our table. I thought this kind of foolish anti-neighbour behaviour only happened in Canada, and it pisses lfw off big-time. I know for a fact that both wineries have sent people to this place for meals, as I was one so sent. If someone will let me know that this policy has changed, I will include it {HERE}. If not, I would suggest finding another place to eat if you are in Stillwater.
Good times with good people, otherwise...
Friday Aug 24
Sunday Aug 26
Pictures from University of Minn HRC Aug 24
Saturday Aug 25
Pictures from Northern Vineyards Winery Aug 25
Pictures from Elmer Swenson's Vineyard Aug 25
Pictures from St. Croix Vineyards Winery Aug 26
Pictures from Tom Plocher's Vineyard Aug 26
Wine Growers
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