FRONTENAC – A reliably cold hardy red wine variety, the first of the University of Minnesota’s line of cold hardy wine grape hybrids. It has become the most widely planted grape in Minnesota; reliable, hardy, vigorous, heavy bearing grape that produces a medium bodied red wine with excellent cherry and plum flavors.  It is fairly disease resistant, apparently immune to Downy Mildew with only moderate susceptibility to Black Rot and Powdery Mildew. However, it is quite susceptible to the leaf form of Phylloxera and Anthracnose and requires a good spray program if these appear. Despite reliably high sugars, well over 20% even in cold seasons, it tends toward high acid in northern climates. Good sun exposure on a VSP Trellis is recommended. Further south acid is much less of a problem. Has made some award winning Port-style wines. Frontenac has become a workhorse of Minnesota wine production.

SABREVOIS (sah-bray-vway) – An older Elmer Swenson Hybrid that has come to some popularity in Quebec where it is quite widely planted. Characterized by great vigor this vine should not be grown on a Four Arm Kniffen trellis system, as it quickly overgrows the trellis causing shading and reduced ripening. It does best on a Munson or Geneva Double Curtain trellis system, where its large canopy can be arranged and spread out. It will bear heavily and ripen well if it can develop a large canopy and enough fruiting buds are left. It is also extremely disease resistant reportedly often not requiring spraying at all. The wine is full bodied and complex. It is often used for blending and flavors can become strong when left on the skins too long. Apparently less cold hardy than Frontenac, it is a good grower that has been reliable in recent years. It should become a stalwart of the modern northern wine scene.

KING OF THE NORTH – Apparently an accidental hybrid of Concord and Riparia parents, this strong growing, heavy bearing red wine variety can also be used in juice and jelly production. This is another grape whose great vigor and productivity requires a large trellis and would do well on the Munson or Geneva Double Curtain system. It is susceptible to Downy Mildew but does well when this problem is controlled and tends to ripen quite late with high acid. The red wine must be finished sweet to balance its high acid. When this is done the wine is rich, delicious and aromatic with mild Concord flavor, not rough or ragged as is often typical of Concord wines. The aroma is typically Concord as well. According to tests done in Wisconsin, it is one of the hardiest vines we offer and clearly has a place in northern viticulture.

SIPASKA – An old, extremely cold hardy, red wine grape from South Dakota that may have potential in the north. It is extremely vigorous and ripens with sugars over 20% early in September. It should be grown on a large trellis to accommodate its great vigor. Its drooping growth character would make it excellent for the GDC trellis. It is able to withstand temperatures down to –40 F. and perhaps below. The wine is extremely dark red and very full bodied and quite strong. As a rule it is not good as a standard wine grape but has made some delicious Port-type wines. Although the berries and clusters are quite small, very reminiscent of the wild Riparia grape that is no doubt its heritage, and may not be suitable as a commercial wine grape, its extreme hardiness, early ripening and great vigor suggest it may be suitable for test in extreme northern sites.

CLINTON – A very old hybrid for New York State that predates the Civil War and among the first grapes grown in the state by pioneers. Although its apparent genetics would not suggest great hardiness, it has been found growing in North Dakota and seems to do well in northern sites. It seems to be very drooping and would likely do well on the Munson or Geneva Double trellis. The clusters are small and tight and the berries are medium sized. The wine has been sound although Clinton often ripens with high acid. Long used as a rootstock for other grapes, Clinton may well be a good choice for consideration in the north, as it is apparently cold hardy, very disease resistant, and bears well, a valuable combination.

FRONTENAC GRIS (gree) – A very interesting white wine release from the University of Minnesota. It is in fact a color mutation found on the mother Frontenac vine (then called MN1047) in the University’s collection at Excelsior, Minnesota. It is culturally identical to the original red Frontenac and can only be told from the original when the grapes begin to color bronze rather than red. Frontenac Gris has the same desirable growth characteristics of Frontenac: good vigor, reliable hardiness and ability to bear heavily. It has the same weaknesses as well: high acid, and susceptibility to Phylloxera and Anthracnose. Even so, reflecting the fact that much flavor come from the skins, the wine from Frontenac Gris is in no way similar to the original Frontenac. When made with skin time, it produces a light rose’ or blush, with apricot and peach flavors. When made as a white, it is crisp and clean and quite delicious. It has also been used to make a good ice-type wine where in the color is more red and the flavor quite intensely cherry. Frontenac Gris appears to be a multi-use wine grape that is an important addition to northern viniculture.

PRAIRIE STAR – An older Elmer Swenson Hybrid that has reliable hardiness once mature. It bears well, with oblong, often tight clusters of smallish berries, most of which have a shoulder or wing - very handsome. It is a clean, healthy vine, which grows strongly upward and does well on the VSP system. It ripens mid-September with over 20% sugar and excellent sugar/acid balance. The wine tends to be full-bodied, but often unremarkable. Originally recommended for blending. However, good clean, crisp and enjoyable Prairie Star varietal wines have been made in recent years. It is reliable in the north, easy to grow and should find an important place in northern viticulture in the years ahead.

LOUISE (SWENSON) – A Swenson Hybrid named for Elmer’s wife it is very cold hardy and reliably bears fruit even after "test winters" and in difficult conditions. The vine is clean and healthy and bears fairly well, but lacks the vigor of many other northern grapes. It can be grown successfully on the Four Arm Kniffen Trellis. The plump tight clusters rarely exceed 18% sugar and the wine produced, while honey flavored and flowery of high quality, is very light and benefits from blending with Prairie Star or Lacrosse to add body. Its reliability, wine quality and good growth characteristics give it a place in northern viticulture. It can be grown further north than any of the other white wine grapes on this list.

LACRESCENT – A recent white wine release from the University of Minnesota, this grape has reliable hardiness, good vigor and bears well. Its chief cultural weakness is susceptibility to Downy Mildew. Nevertheless, when this is controlled the vine does well. The wine finished dry tends to be harsh and austere but when finished sweet, rich pineapple, melon and Muscat flavors and aroma come out. Reports on the wine have been enthusiastic.

TABLE GRAPES

BLUEBELL – A very early ripening, reliably hardy, very disease resistant, concord-style seeded table grape. It has good vigor and bears well. It is suitable for juice and jelly as well. Clusters are medium sized and berries are large, very handsome in appearance and delicious in flavor. Occasionally gets Anthracnose in wet seasons but often does not require spraying at all. Its major fault is that berries sometimes crack in wet rainy falls. Foliar fertilization using calcium before blossom seems to help. This is a reliably hardy, disease resistant heavy bearing and delicious table grape for the north that is easy to grow and has few weaknesses. It is a standard here at Great River Vineyard and sells well commercially. Also good for grape juice.

SUMMERSWEET – SOLD OUT FOR 2006 - A table grape release from Elmer Swenson’s work, this vine has notably greater cold hardiness than Bluebell and is about equal in disease resistance. Clusters are small and very compact, berries are medium size and dark. Flavor is very good, but lacks the handsome appearance of Bluebell and may not be suitable for commercial sales. An excellent selection for backyard growers in the far north who have few vines hardy enough to consider.

SOMERSET SEEDLESS – – SOLD OUT FOR 2006 - Barely hardy enough to make the Great River Vineyard list, this vine is still the hardiest seedless grape we have yet seen. Although very clean and easy to grow, the vine is not over vigorous. Clusters are medium sized, loose and handsome. The berries are small and orange/red with a small "vestiginal seed" sometimes apparent. Appears to be the best seedless grape yet available for the North.

JELLY AND JUICE GRAPES

VALIANT – This is the hardiest grape we offer able to withstand prolonged periods below –40 F. without cold injury. Reportedly able to bear reliably and ripen fruit in Manitoba without winter protection. No other grape we offer or have heard about is able to perform like this. It is very vigorous and bears very heavily of small, tight clusters of small, deep red berries. Although it tastes fairly good, it is not suitable in appearance as a table grape. However, its deep red, tangy sweet juice is excellent and the jelly produced is grapey and delicious as well. However, its high susceptibility to Downy Mildew and Black Rot limits its value in wet humid climes. But it is good for extremely cold, short season sites where other vines fail.

CHONTAY – A good growing, healthy, productive vine that is among the hardiest vines we offer. The clusters are medium sized and loose, the berries medium sized and very dark. The flavor for eating is fairly good when not allowed to become overripe and makes good juice and jelly as well. It has not been successful as a wine variety as flavors tend to be strong. It appears to be very disease resistant with only a moderate susceptibility to Anthracnose. This is a good vine to consider in the extreme north for its extra level of cold hardiness, early ripening and good bearing.