The state was created in 1858 and is located in the Midwest of the USA in the north on the border with Canada. Because of its many lakes, Minnesota is also known as the "Land of 10,000 Lakes". There are extremely cold winters with temperatures below minus 30 °Celsius. For this reason, the University of Minnesota has pushed ahead with research into cold-weather viticulture and promoted extremely frost-hardy new varieties. Among them are Edelweiss, Frontenac, La Crosse, St. Croix and St. Pepin, which were created by grapevine breeder Elmer Swenson (1913-2004) on his farm near Osceola. The more than 400 grape growers are united in the "Minnesota Grape Growers Association". The only AVA area is called Alexandria Lakes. Well-known producers are Alexis Bailly Vineyards, Luedke's Winery, Minnesota Wild Winery, Morgan Creek Vineyards, Saint Croix Vineyards.
The glossary is a monumental achievement and one of the most important contributions to wine knowledge. Of all the encyclopaedias I use on the subject of wine, it is by far the most important. That was the case ten years ago and it hasn't changed since.
Andreas Essl
Autor, Modena