If the term “wine region” conjures up images of quintessential French cottages dotting the hillsides of Burgundy, or expansive coastal vineyards of California — close your eyes and picture this: lush, rolling pastures of Midwest farmland, painted with vineyards. It’s not a dream, with 70+ operating wineries just in the state of Minnesota, you likely don’t need to travel far to visit one.
One rule you need to know
Not sure about what kind of Minnesota wine you might like? (Or not sure what kind of wine you like in general?) With over a dozen varieties of grapes thriving in Minnesota’s vineyards (not to mention fruit wines and blends) there’s sure to be a wine to please every palette, and here’s the one rule you need to know before you step into a winery: if you like it, it’s the right wine.
There is nothing else that people eat or drink that has the perception of being “wrong” in quite the same way as wine. Precedents for proper pairings, hard to pronounce names, and a wide range of price points can make the wine world difficult to navigate. Beer aficionados don’t seem to anguish over the “right” beer, but drink what they like — so, why wine?
Explore
When visiting a winery you can enjoy a “wine tasting” (small samples of several wines) for just a few dollars, which allows you to try and compare several wines.
Don’t like it? Dump it out! (Hint: that’s what the “dump” bucket on the wine bar is for). Contrary the “Minnesota Nice” mentality whereby we smile and tell the chef the hot-dish is delicious (when it’s not) — it is not impolite to dump out the wine, or even spit it out, if a sip isn’t to your liking. A wine tasting is all about discovering what you like.
Most locations also have bottle shops where you can purchase wine to take home — a fantastic opportunity to try before you buy! (Pro-tip: Special legislation allows the , a day when liquor stores are otherwise closed in Minnesota).
Yes, Minnesota’s wine country is rife for exploration: in addition to navigating the many flavors of a wine tasting, many locations welcome — if not encourage — sightseeing in the vineyard grounds themselves, so take a hike and enjoy the vistas of Minnesota’s unique wine country!
Family friendly? Absolutely! Many wineries have events and activities for families and youngsters — not to mention, are live operating farms with plenty to see and do. Consider packing a picnic (not all serve food, and many in are in rural areas), and make a day of it!
Where to start?
has a comprehensive map of area wineries, and we’ve included a chart below that may help you to understand cold-climate wine varieties (compared to more commonly recognized favorites).
Minnesota’s Budding Grape Crops
Minnesota is yet a fledgling when it comes to its history as a wine region. Barely over a generation old, the first grapevines were planted in Minnesota soil in the 1970’s (compared to other American wine regions established in the mid-1800’s.) In that short time have opened regionally!
The has one of the top programs developing “cold-climate” grapes, meaning grapevines that survive Minnesota’s extreme cold winters. To put it simply: the U of M has developed and continues to develop new varieties of grapes which thrive despite cold winters and produce excellent wine (an important fact, since not all grapes will make good wine!).
There are a total of more than 20 grape varieties, have been developed by the U of M.
‘s mission is to encourage exploration of Minnesota through wine-related experiences. Founder Lauren Voigt launched the project after working on initiatives for clients in Minnesota’s wine industry, and developing a strong belief that there is little else that people eat or drink that is perceived to be “wrong” in quite the same way as wine. So, why wine? She believes, if you like it, its the right wine!
