The newest grape from the U of MN breeding program. Itasca has proven itself to be among the hardiest cultivated grapes known, even surpassing Frontenac and Marquette in cold hardiness. Very vigorous growth, slightly more than Frontenac. Training to high wire cordon will help to de-vigorate these vines, but VSP can be used on lower vigor sites. Very productive. Ripens early to brix levels in the mid 20's and moderate acidity of around 10 g/L. With aromas of apple, pear, and violet and lower acidity, this selection is very well suited to making dry white wines and sparkling wines. Some very nice off dry wines have also been produced. Selected by U of MN. A $1.00 ROYALTY TO THE U. OF MN WILL BE ADDED TO EACH VINE.

This is the newest member of the Frontenac family! Just like the family of Pinot noir, Pinot gris, and Pinot blanc, another mutation of Frontenac has been found. In the vineyard, Frontenac blanc performs identically to Frontenac and Frontenac gris. Very productive, vigorous, immune to downy mildew, and hardy to near -36F. Berries are yellow to gold when ripe, producing a very light straw colored wine. Exposure of clusters to full sun will achieve the best aromatics. Early wine samples have been distinctly different from Frontenac gris, expressing more pure stone fruit and melon in the nose. Ripens late mid season with moderate to high acidity. Dry white blends, semi-sweet whites, late harvest, ice wines and straw wines are all possible with Frontenac blanc and Frontenac gris. This may be a good choice for those who have difficulty with La Crescent in the vineyard. A $.40 ROYALTY TO THE MN NURSERY RESEARCH CORP. IS ADDED TO THE PRICE OF EACH VINE.

In good conditions, hardy to -36F. La Crescent is a moderate to high vigor release from the University of MN. Trailing growth habit. Early bud break and early to mid season ripening. Quite susceptible to downy mildew and black rot, but this is easily controlled with a careful spray program. Early defoliation due to downy or powdery mildew must be controlled to allow the vine to fully harden off for winter. Seems to prefer drier soils. Prone to shelling near harvest, late harvest is not an option. Well ripened La Crescent will reach 22-27 brix with 12-14 g/l acidity. Wine can be excellent, winning Best of Show for cold climate whites at several ICCW competitions. Big, bright aromatics include lots of apricot, lime and honey. Similar to a good Vignole or Riesling. Can be made dry in the best years if acid drops and it is properly handled in the winery. Often finished off dry to sweet. Also makes wonderful rich dessert wines. Selected by the U of MN. A $.50 ROYALTY TO U OF MN WILL BE ADDED TO EACH VINE.

This mutation of Frontenac was found growing at the U of MN. Culturally it is identical to Frontenac, with great hardiness and good disease resistance. Ripening time is a little earlier than Frontenac. Small grey to bronze berries are born on medium sized, loose clusters. Berry splitting and botrytis have not been observed. Suitable for high quality table and dessert wines, late harvest, ice wines and straw wines. Small quantities blended into a dry white blend add bright aromatics to more neutral base wines, like Prairie Star. When given a short period of skin contact, or when blended with cold pressed Frontenac, Frontenac gris makes an amazing rose. Ripens mid season with aromas that include grapefruit, peach, and pineapple. Labrusca and herbaceous aromas have not been detected. Selected by the U of MN. A $.50 ROYALTY TO U OF MN WILL BE ADDED TO EACH VINE.

Proving to be very hardy, to around -30F. In recent years this vigorous variety has been quickly replacing Edelweiss, which has shown winter injury in some years at surprisingly mild temperatures, due to its superior winter hardiness. Extremely productive, with small to medium sized tight clusters, fair disease resistance, susceptible to crown gall in frost prone locations. Trailing growth habit capable of producing long canes if not green pruned. Brianna wine is becoming increasingly popular due to its big, tropical fruit aromas. Pineapple is a typical aroma, with other tropical and stone fruit aromas in the background. While early ripening, often the end of August or first week of September, acid remains high. Best harvested when the ph is 3.2-3.5. Often finished with some residual sugar. Makes a good seed table grape also. Selected by Elmer Swenson.

Cold hardy to around -20F. This is the signature white wine grape of Nova Scotia. Moderate vigor and very upright growth lend this selection to vertical shoot position training. Small leaves and medium clusters averaging 90 g. L'Acadie blanc performs best in areas with moderate winters and cool summers, such as the New England coast and the shores of the Great Lakes. Ripens mid season with low acid. Suitable for multiple styles of wine including dry table wines produced in steel and barrel fermentations, sparkling wines, off dry varietal wines, and blends. In the northeast, the nose tends to be citrusy, with some nice minerality. In warmer or hot climates, the acid may drop too low resulting in a flat wine. Lots of potential in maritime climates of the north.

Consistently hardy to -40F. Moderate vigor with an orderly growth habit. Rarely requires shoot pruning. Regular yields of medium sized clusters, 3-4 tons per acre. On the later side to bud out in the spring and very good disease resistance. Performs best on heavier soils or with plenty of irrigation. Wine can be outstanding with aromas of flowers, honey and tangerine. Low acidity makes this a perfect selection for dry white wine. Sugar production is also low, 18-20 brix. Can become slightly labrusca if left to overripe. Somewhat light in body, Louise benefits from a small addition of Prairie Star or Frontenac blanc. Plantings have grown significantly in recent years and we expect this variety to become even more popular in the future. Sulfur sensitive. Selected by Elmer Swenson.

Hardy to around -26F. This variety is not self fruitful and requires another variety that blooms at the same time to be planted near it for proper fruit set. Suitable pollinators are Louise, Praire Star, Brianna, LaCrosse, and to a lesser degree the Frontenac family. Yield can be up to 4 tons per acre when planted 2 rows of St. Pepin with one row of pollinator on either side. Medium sized berries on medium sized loose clusters. St. Pepin has moderate vigor and a very easy to manage canopy. Leaves are on the smaller side allowing good sun exposure to the clusters. We like it grown on high wire cordon. Ripens mid season to about 22 brix and under 1% TA. Can make outstanding dry or off-dry white wine. Thick skins allow St. Pepin to hang on the vine for late harvest or ice wine. Wine can be excellent, approaching Riesling in quality. Aromatics include lemon, grapefruit and honeysuckle. Selected by Elmer Swenson.

Hardy to -38F. This selection is widely planted for its lower acidity and neutral aromatics. It is an ideal blending component for dry white wines to lower the overall acidity and add body and finish. Sometimes Prairie Star is made as a varietal or with a small amount of something more aromatic, and then barrel fermented. This is a wine style that resembles some California Chardonnays, but is made from fully hardy grapes. Acidity is typically below 1% with 20-22 brix. Both Prairie Star and Louise perform well on heavier soils with more silt and clay. Should be well irrigated on sandier sites. Growth is somewhat upright. Mid season bud break and early season ripening. Selected by Elmer Swenson.

Not yet widely planted, this selection is hardy to around -30F and is early to ripen. Moderate vigor and an orderly trailing growth habit. Fruit chemistry is excellent for dry white wine production, producing around 22 brix and around 6-7 g/l acidity. Wine has very good body with a light floral and citrusy nose. Can be used in a dry white blend to add body or stand on its own. This wine goes quite well with seafood and cream based dishes. Some say it is similar to French Muscadet. Potential for really nice sparkling wine too. Selected by Elmer Swenson.

Hardy to around -25F. Strong vigor and a semi upright growth habit. Lots of tendrils. Ripens late to around 22 brix. Good varietal wines have been made in a dry and semi dry style and are clean and fruity with good acidity similar to Seyval blanc, one of its parents. Citrus, apple, pear, and apricot have been noted in the nose. Also does well when lightly oaked or barrel fermented. This is one of the leading white wine varieties in some upper midwestern states and does very well in moderate sites of the northeast. Selected by Elmer Swenson.

Hardy to -20F. A very productive and well trusted variety from the Cornell breeding program. Upright growth lends itself to VSP training, but hi wire also works well. Large berries and large clusters allow for yields that can go over 6-7 tons per acre on good sites. 3-4 tons per acre is very common. Often harvested around 17 brix, the finished wine can stand well on its own or be blended. It’s soft character blends well with many other varieties, taking on their character. Can be versatile in the winery, making dozens of different styles of wine.

Hardy to about -20F, although has suffered injury on some sites at -15F. Widely adaptable, Edelweiss has long been a very popular choice for sweet, germanic style white wines in the midwest. The quality of the wines has earned it much acclaim, including The Best in Show white wine at the 2009 ICCWC. Grower reports in recent years have shown winter injury at relatively mild temperatures of -15F This may be due to a combination of factors including crop size, disease pressure, and drought stress, but it is important to know if considering planting in a cold spot. Trailing growth habit. Early bud break and early to ripen. Best harvested early, around 17 brix to minimize labrusca aromas that will develop if left on the vine. Makes a nice seeded table grape and juice grape too. Selected by Elmer Swenson. LIMITED INVENTORY. CALL OR EMAL TO PLACE ORDER.

The newest white wine variety from the U. of Minnesota (previously tested as MN 1220). Hardy to around -20F. Mid season bud break. Upright to arching in growth habit, this selection can be grown on hi wire trellis or vertical shoot positioning. Nice open growth habit, with medium sized, loose clusters. Ripens mid season. Test wines have been popular for some time producing aromas of pome fruit and tropical fruit. Acidity is moderate. We look forward to seeing how this variety does as it is planted more widely in the coming years. Selected by U. of Minnesota. $1 royalty per vine will be added. SOLD OUT FOR 2025. PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL TO BE PLACED ON A WAITING LIST.

This older white selection from France is extremely widely planted in cool climate areas and is a mainstay of many wineries. Hardy to about -15F or maybe a bit better, with an upright growth habit. Vines can be very productive and ripen their crop early to mid season. A diverse range of wines are made from Seyval Blanc, from dry steel fermented with notable citrus and stone fruit aromas to oak fermented and buttery whites with more body. Blending is very common too. Resistant to powdery mildew. Selected by Seyve and Villard.