RESEARCH ON VINES AND WINE KNOWS NO BOUNDS: EVEN MINNESOTA, DESPITE THE COLD CLIMATE, THANKS TO UNIVERSITY STUDIES HAS COLD RESISTANT VINEYARDS PRODUCING WINE. THE GOAL IS TO IMPROVE IT

Research on vines and wine knows no boundaries. Even in Minnesota (whose wine history is at its beginnings), thanks to studies conducted by its State University, over the past thirty years has developed varieties of grapes resistant to the cold climates of North America where the temperature drops to 33 degrees below zero in the winter. Today, these vineyards produce the most consumed wines in the State: they are good, but could definitely be improved upon. How? Through University of Minnesota’s research center, sponsored by a substantial grant (2.5 million U.S. dollars) from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and eleven institutions. The goal is to create more vineyards besides the four that have already been developed (Frontenac, Frontenac Gris, La Crescent and Marquette) that are cold resistant and guarantee wine production capable of convincing the consumer (who in 2010 assessed 100 wines) and the interest of the local wine industry, which might in a few years be ready to compete with the most important U.S. wine regions.