IN SEARCH OF ELMER SWENSON
Pictures of the Trip

Left - Found Him!      Right - Elmer relaxing
Friday Aug 24 at the University of Minnesota
Horticultural Research Center

All photos courtesy of Mark Hart



Howard Krosch examines MN 1166 (La Crescent) selection in a second test planting at MN HRC. L to R (front to back): Trip organizer Tom Plocher, Mariette Lagueux, Alain Breault, Mike Marler, Bryan Pell, Fabien Gagne, John Anthony, Howard Krosch, Peter Hemstad. La Crescent is a wonderful variety that is winterhardy, disease-resistant and makes wine with a wonderful "Muscaty" character. It would be quite useful to us in Central Ontario. Oh the wait for quarantine...


A new vine that is being "watched" A crossing of Ravat 34 X Mn 1069. The type of work that is being done at the University. Vines are created by crossing two parents (one parent vine donates the seed, the other the pollen). The results are allowed to grow and the breeder looks for desirable characteristics. I'd have to say this one passes any kind of visual appeal test! The breeders will make many thousands of crosses before they find any that are useful, and maybe only a very few that will actually end up being used commercially.


University of Minnesota Viticulturalist (and grape breeder) Peter Hemstad and Mike Marler of Vignoble les Pervenches (Farnham, Quebec) discuss winemaking and grapegrowing techniques at the new winemaking facility at the Horticultural Research Center of the University of Minnesota.


Wines made from the varieties grown at the University for tasting by the tourists from Canada (eh?). It is a cherished and long-hoped for dream of local growers and wineries that the combination of a new winery at the University and newly-hired University of Minnesota winemaker Anna K Mansfield will help move the whole industry forward into the new millenium.


Friday Aug 24Pictures from University of Minn HRC Aug 24

Saturday Aug 25Pictures from Northern Vineyards Winery Aug 25
 Pictures from Elmer Swenson's Vineyard Aug 25

Sunday Aug 26Pictures from St. Croix Vineyards Winery Aug 26
 Pictures from Tom Plocher's Vineyard Aug 26

ISOES Wine Growers www.littlefatwino.com