Minnesota: Land of 10,000 Grapes
To most people’s surprise and amazement, Minnesota supports a number of small vineyards and wineries. In order to get the word out and create a more stable and consistent market for Minnesota wines, a group of grape growers came together to start the Minnesota Winegrowers Cooperative about 18 years ago.
In 1983, they opened Northern Vineyards Winery, where they could bring their grapes to make and sell wine. In the beginning, Co-op members helped run the tasting room and make the wine. The Co-op now boasts a Head and Assistant Winemaker. At its new location on Main Street in Stillwater, the Winery not only makes and sells wines, but also provides daily tastings and weekly tours and hosts community events.
Meeting the Demand
The production methods vary from grower to grower, and although few are entirely chemical-free, most of them are committed to using as few chemicals as possible. Grape growing in Minnesota is hard work, organic or no. Most growers do it because they enjoy the trellising, pruning, weeding and harvesting, all done by hand. On top of this, some tender varieties of vines must be buried in the winter to protect them from freezing temperatures. Most of the Minnesota Winegrowers Cooperative members live in rural and semi-rural areas, and have not been affected by encroaching development. However, they do have to deal with pesticide drift from neighboring farms, which can damage some vines.
The main problem the cooperative faces, though, is that there is more demand for their wine than supply. As Minnesotans begin to learn more about their native wines, demand will continue to rise, and the cooperative will need more members. Grape growing is a good way for farmers to diversify, since there is already a local market for this crop. However, it takes a few years from planting the vines until harvesting the first crop, so the grower must take this into account. Once producing, though, a small vineyard can add income in good years and can be something to fall back on if other crops fail on a diversified farm.
Grape Breeding and Research
There is also a market for juice grapes in Minnesota, and to a lesser extent, table grapes. The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chanhassen has an active grape breeding and research program and has worked with local grower and breeder Elmer Swenson to introduce hardy varieties over the years. The University of Minnesota Extension service has a publication based on this research that explains how to choose and grow varieties of grapes. It can be ordered by calling (612) 624-4900 or (800) 876-8636 or accessed on the internet at University of Minnesota Extension Service. Another great resource for growing grapes in Minnesota is the Great River Vineyard. They supply nursery plants and cuttings for fledgling vineyards, and provide links to pertinent grape information.
Grapes are a good crop for small lots. One or two vines can be grown in backyards for home consumption, and an acre can produce enough to sell to cooperatives or other markets. Many of the varieties bred to withstand Minnesota conditions were also bred with disease resistance in mind, so varieties are available that require little in the way of pest management, aside from fencing and netting to keep out deer and birds, if necessary. Grapes are a good diversification option for small farms looking for a sustainable new income source.