Notes From The North The quarterly newsletter of the Minnesota Growers Association

Volume 36, Number 4 Winter 2010

I cannot tell a lie. I am not Wollersheim were growing their winery by leaps a big fan of winter. Boots, hats, gloves, & bounds; Rep. Eldon Nygaard was doing the scarfs, overstuffed jackets, cold, dark… limiting. same at Valiant Vineyards in South Dakota and Lisa Of course, there are a few upsides which may Duppong, Crops Research Specialist at North Dakota include early evenings in front of the fireplace, State University, was planting the idea of a grape time for reading books, outdoor winter sports (if industry in North Dakota. you’re so inclined), and travel (real or imagined) In 2002 the National Agricultural Statistics Service to somewhere sunny and warm. reported 220 acres of in Minnesota. With I can think of one more positive the U of M release of The conference, now approaching its seventh about winter, and that is pruning. in 2002 iteration in February 2011, draws attendees from Color us crazy but, Deb and I and gris in across the United States, and internationally . . . both enjoy the hours we spend 2003 acreage numbers in the vineyards pruning from late November to late began to grow with alacrity. The inaugural Cold Climate March. We can see the structure of the vines, assess Grape & Wine Conference in 2005 signaled a new and the condition of the wood and evaluate the work we improved effort by the MGGA at grower and winemaker did the previous winter and summer with pruning and communication and education, and wider regional canopy management. collaboration. The conference, now approaching its We feel fortunate to have made the decision to grow seventh iteration in February 2011, draws attendees wine grapes when we did; now some twelve years from across the United States, and internationally, ago. The twenty-plus year effort of the MGGA to and is widely recognized as the premier cold climate coalesce the passion of grape growers and wine & enology event in the nation today. Great makers into a cohesive association was beginning to care is given each year to seek and select conference create buzz, the University of Minnesota’s decades curriculum topics with unique application to cold climate old grape breeding program was beginning to bear issues. Conference sessions are presented by cold results with the release of Frontenac in 1996, and Mr. climate grape & wine experts with knowledge of a select Elmer Swenson was being recognized and honored list of truly cold hardy grape varieties. The Minnesota for his substantial contributions as he approached Cold Climate Grape & Wine Conference is the place his 90th birthday. Regionally, Iowa was beginning its to meet the experts and find cold hardy grape & wine phenomenal growth spurt guided by folks like Paul solutions. Tabor and Mike White, Wisconsin’s Bob & JoAnn The MGGA has evolved to stay abreast of industry growth, too. By necessity, it is now governed by a much In this Issue: larger board of directors than in the 1990s and early • From the Vineyard...... 2 * • How Sweet It Is ...... 4 • Northern Muscats...... 5 • Annual Meeting/Winter Symposium...... 5 • Observations on MN & Swenson Hybrids in Ohio/East...... 6 •— SAVE THE DATES —• • Conference . . . From the Director...... 7 January 22, 2011 • Winter Greetings From the CCC Committee...... 8 • Conference Schedule Insert...... 9-12 MGGA Annual Meeting/WINTER SYMPOSIUM • MGGA . . . Wanted ...... 13 • — • • Whatssup in Iowa...... 15 • Benefits of the Frustrating 2010 Growing Season...... 16 February 17-19, 2011 • BOD Nominations...... 17 th • Swenson Scholarship Fund donation form...... 18 7 Annual Cold Climate Conference • 2011 Conference Registraton form...... 19 2 Winter 2010 continued from front page 2000s. Likewise, the board demographic has changed From the Vineyard to bring a deliberate mix of subject matter expertise John Marshall essential to Association management to the table. Winter is settling upon us. The vines are dormant and Though we are now effectively serving the industry the days seem a little less hectic. If you are planning to as a trade association, the MGGA remains committed collect some dormant hardwood cuttings to propagate to serving hobbyist growers and winemakers. Many commercial vineyards and wineries begin as the dream this winter for yourself or to sell to wholesale nurseries of a hobbyist. We recognize hobbyists as the broad now is a good time to do it. The vines have gone fully base of our Association and an incubator for tomorrow’s dormant and there has been no severe cold that might grape & wine industry leaders. damage the prunings you harvest making it less apt to propagate. I recall, years ago, we sold wood to a This is my last President’s Corner. My third term as MGGA president ends January 22, 2011. Thank you for nursery that would not take any wood after Dec. 15th the great honor. In truth, I am half of the effort put forth for this very reason. They were concerned about cold as president in these six years — Deb is by far and away injury. Our varieties are selected to be extremely hardy the larger half of our contribution. Her wisdom, counsel and this is normally not a concern to us, but further and work for the Association has been profound. To the south and in the case of some varieties, like St. Pepin, many, many, many MGGA members and friends who St. Croix, Foch and many others, can suffer injury at supported our efforts at Association and industry growth pretty moderate (for Minnesota) temperatures. with your ideas, time, travel and energy we say “Thank This brings up an interesting characteristic of grapes. you!”. We wish the Association continued success in Cold hardiness is a progressive thing. When all its endeavors. vines go dormant initially they have been gathering We look forward to seeing you at the Annual Meeting carbohydrates and storing them away in their roots and in January and the Conference in February. in their trunks and canes. As the soft green shoots of summer begin to give way to a progressive change over to a brown wood (we call it “hardening off”) the vine is in fact storing away lignin or beginning to “lignify” as it “hardens off” for winter. If your vines were overbearing (too heavy of a crop) or if your site is or has become low in Potassium this “hardening” process is slowed down. Under these conditions vines may not harden off well before frost and suffer injury that looks like cold injury but are actually vines that went into dormancy in a weakened condition. Nevertheless, the tips of your growing canes often fail to fully harden off even under normal conditions and soon turn gray rather than some shade of brown or reddish brown, depending on variety and condition of the wood. Generally speaking, the darker the wood the better condition the vine is in. You can easily see what has hardened off and what has not when you cut through a cane. If the wood beneath the bark is gray or brown, the wood has failed to harden off and will not bud out this coming spring. If the inner layers are a healthy light green, the wood is good and can be taken for propagation. Interestingly, as fall progresses toward winter, as it is Volume 36, Number 4 3 now, the vine gradually becomes more and more able down. Even so, we look forward to a great coming to withstand cold. An early shot of severe cold that year. With the frost-reduced crop and the outstanding would not affect a vine in Mid-January can be quite growing season the vines generally entered dormancy devastating early in December. I recall an event along in excellent condition. There is promise of a great crop the East Coast when it fell to zero right at Christmas. ahead. It came to be known as the “Christmas Massacre” as Finally, the season for grape and wine shows is upon vineyards suffered widespread damage there. We us. Let me suggest and recommend that you make Minnesotans saw little damage from this event as we reservations for a grape and wine show near you. Not were burying vines at that time and for the most part only is it a lot fun, but many of us can write the whole our vineyards were safely under soil or cornstalks when thing off as a entirely legal business expense. Even the early cold showed up. Even so, it was a dramatic more important, the new ideas you develop from the demonstration of how vines slowly gather the ability to presentations, the solutions you discover in talking withstand winter cold in preparation for January. with other growers, the products you learn about at If you were able to get a Under these conditions vines may not harden the trade show are opportunities dormant spray on this fall off well before frost and suffer injury that looks often available nowhere else. I (we did), get your Potash like cold injury but are actually vines that went think possibly the best part is the down if needed (we did), into dormancy in a weakened condition. people I meet and the knowledge begin building trellis for a new planting next spring and experience they share with me. This is truly (got a good start), put a fall application of herbicide an opportunity that cannot be found anywhere else. down (we didn’t) you are in a good place to start next Hopefully I will see you at the next CCC or another spring. Unfortunately for us, the frost held off so long grape and wine conference around the region. When our vines remained green nearly into November and we browsing the trade show, stop by and say hello. did not find a window of dormancy to get our herbicide John

Opened in 2010 Downtown Redwood Falls, MN 252 E. 2nd Street in the historic Ford Garage — New Location — Same Great

Wines made from 100% Minnesota grown grapes & fruit. 507-627-WINE (9463) visit: www.fieldstonevineyards.com for hours, events and other wine details 4 Winter 2010 How Sweet it is – The Growing in California to feed the beast. It is a sweet wine, similar to our Pinot Grigio at the lower end. Every producer that Sweet Wine Trend can ramp it up is.” Blog by Jeff Lefevere on 10/7/10 The third flag I saw is a Fresno Bee article on Moscato Article submitted by Patrick Pierquet (also in September) that noted in reference to the Muscat grape, (quoting Nat DiBuduo, president of Allied Grape Is the table set for a boom in varietal sweet table wines Growers in Fresno): “Now, we are at the point where in the U.S., wines that are known to have some residual demand may be outpacing the current supply.” sugar (RS) instead of being a wink and a smile from the DiBuduo estimates that acreage will increase by at wine business? The tea leaves say, “Yes.” least 50% over the next two years, from 3,245 acres in I touched on the “knowing” sweet wine topic earlier this production statewide today. year in a post about Jam Jar, a stated semi-sweet Shiraz Among the reasons for the surge is a growing number of that, according to importer Cape Classics, has been muscat wine drinkers. enjoying robust sales since domestic launch. Sales of Moscato—a muscat wine—rose 78% during a And, while it’s common for a domestic white wine, generally one-year period ending in June, said Jon Fredrikson of under $12 a bottle, to have a whisper of RS, what is not Woodside-based Gomberg, Fredrikson and Associates, common is reporting that there’s residual sugar in it. a wine industry consulting firm. That said, I think we (the royal “we” as in the collective of Finally, as a capstone, I paid a visit to the wine section at all wine enthusiasts who participate symbiotically with the Sam’s Club this past weekend – in a bin, nearly empty, wine business) are on the cusp of participating or being next to nearly full bins of other white wines, was the Terra swept up in a sweet wine trend – the kind of trend that d’Oro Moscato, a wine that clearly was selling extremely takes sweet wines out of the back alley and onto Broadway well against other whites. as an accepted varietal wine while no longer being viewed as a quaff only for the uninitiated, or dessert, instead being Is this all coincidence? No. Moscato is coming on strong. seen as something that is occasion appropriate and can The reason for the growth, organic as it may be, is harder be paired on the dinner table. to pin down. I note this because much of what I find interesting in writing Anecdotally, I think there are four reasons: about wine is looking for disparate common threads that 1) Distribution. Large wine producers are able to get Moscato can be tied together. Related to sweet wine, over the varietal wines to large retailers at competitive prices, where course of the last several weeks, I’ve seen these disparate many people are buying their “value” wines. common threads and, as they say, once is an accident, 2) No stigmas. Gen. Y doesn’t carry legacy stigmas of what twice, a coincidence and three times is a trend ... to drink, or not to drink. And, even if they did, they probably wouldn’t care. Plus, they are inveterate explorers drinking Simply put, Muscat, typically known as Muscato or globally from the word “go” and Moscato d’Asti from Italy is Moscato on the wine shelf is growing … big time growing a pleasant introduction to the varietal. ... as a still wine, not an Italian sparkler nor as a dessert 3) Rising consumption and new consumers. With the rising wine. wine consumption in the U.S. there are some late converts, The first “hmm …” moment regarding Moscato came with like my Mom for example –Age 60 +. She is slowly but surely an announcement from the NextGen Wine Competition taking the path of palate development, but White this summer, based on judging from a twenty-something wasn’t her gateway wine, it was semi-sweet varietal wines panel, awarding a non-vintage Barefoot Cellars Moscato a from Midwest wineries. Moscato is tailor made for her as she evolves to and soft tannin reds. Her journey is one “Best in Show” award. Was this a fluke worthy of derision? shared by many. Some thought so . . . Until a larger context started framing 4) Quality. Even hard-bitten wine enthusiasts have to admit itself. that Moscato is an enjoyable glass of wine, pleasingly floral, The second reference I saw came in a presentation from typically balanced, and able to be made with some character, the Wine Industry Financial Symposium last month. In with reasonably low alcohol and an inexpensive price. that presentation, in response to a question posed to wine In sum, keep an eye on growth of not just Moscato, but industry leaders, “Have your sales begun to revive? For semi-sweet varietal wines in general – they will have which products at which price points?” The anonymous, higher price points, but still with a “value” orientation and non-attributed response came: they won’t be garishly packaged on the bottom shelf of “I would say at the low-end, Muscato is the varietal that the wine aisle, having earned a higher degree of respect is standing out. There is not enough Muscato right now in the court of wine consumer opinion. Volume 36, Number 4 5 NORTHERN MUSCATS ANNUAL MEETING/WINTER by John Marshall SYMPOSIUM Muscat Grapes are a species of grape that imparts a SATURDAY JAN. 22, 2011 very distinctive and aromatic character to wine. It has • Registration opens at 8:00 a.m. long been popular as a sweet white wine in Europe and • Meeting begins at 9 a.m. SHARP in recent years begun to grow in popularity in the U.S Minnesota Landscape Arboretum as well. However, this species of Vitis is notably cold Synder Building Auditorium tender and it is only lately that a few hybrids exhibiting 3675 Arboretum Dr., Chaska, MN 55318 Muscat flavor and aroma have come to light worthy of www.arboretum.umn.edu trial in northern climates: The morning agenda is MGGA business and elections, La Crescent – A University of Minnesota Hybrid that followed by a hot lunch with . has Muscat in its background. While it does not The Winter Symposium will consist of: exhibit strong Muscat characteristics it does produce • the annual University research report by Peter Hemstad an aromatic, sweet white wine in the Muscat tradition. and Nick Smith. Some wine drinkers feel they note some subtle Muscat flavors in it. • Katie Cook, University of Minnesota, will be our afternoon presenter, speaking on Minnesota and “terroir”. Petite Amie – Translated, Little friend, this complex MacGregor Hybrid has distinct Muscat flavors and • Tami Bredeson, MGGA board of director, will also lead us through a ‘sneak peek’ at the future MGGA website. aroma although some would argue not entirely authentic Muscat characteristics. Clusters are very small and • The day ends with a *Wine & Cheese Social until 5 p.m. it’s hardiness uncertain. Thus it is notably unreliable The cost is **$30 for the Hot Lunch and wine. in Minnesota although it has gained some popularity in We will be staffed so you may renew your membership Nebraska. Good eating and produces a pleasant and and/or register for the Cold Climate Conference. unique white wine. MEMBERS: ALL meetings and Wine & Cheese social Osceola Muscat - formerly ES 8-2-43 it was named last are FREE to MGGA members. year. This white grape usually has a noticeable Muscat Non-members: Morning Meeting is free; flavor, but it varies some from year to year. Some years **Afternoon Winter Symposium/ Wine & very notable — other years very subtle. It is productive, Cheese Social — $10. ripens fairly early and has no major disease issues. It ALL ATTENDEES: *Hot Lunch and Wine — $30 can make a decent wine. It is tasty to eat as well. It is pretty hardy in most of the Twin Cities area, but does RSVP is required by Jan. 10, 2011 to suffer winter injury in colder areas. Missy Machkhashvili at ES 8-2-33 – a sister seedling of Osceola Muscat that is [email protected] or 1-651-764-5599 very similar. It does not seem to offer any advantages over its sister however and is not being propagated. We must plan accordingly for food and the facility so cannot guarantee catered lunch for walk-ins. Editor’s note: the Editor would like to thank MGGA members Mark Hart and Tom Plocher for their substantial and informed * / ** Denotes Optional Events input into the above article. 25th Anniversary CD

HERE’S TO THE CORKSCREW MGGA’s CD-ROM of Historical Viticultural Publications It is a useful key to unlock the storehouse of wit, the treasury of laughter, the front door of fellowship and To Order send $15.50 the gate of pleasant folly. - W.E.P. French MGGA, 433 W. 3rd Street, Ste. 1 Red Wing, MN 55066 6 Winter 2010 Observations on Minnesota & M varieties for several seasons. Most notable are the rosé wines made from Frontenac: very fruity and fragrant, with Swenson Hybrids in Ohio & the East cherry and berry aromas, the wine has been quite popular by Pat Pierquet when we’ve served it during our workshops. For a rosé wine, we cold-press the Frontenac with no skin contact time. The Here in Ohio, viticulture has traditionally relied on the old only potential problem might be the color…some people judge native American varieties Concord, and . it to be too dark for a true rosé wine. In fact, Ohio is the original “home” of the Catawba grape: this variety was first planted and popularized in the Ohio River The white wines made from U of M varieties have also shown Valley area in the early 1800’s. At one point there were over well. Our La Crescent wines have been very clean and 3000 acres of Catawba vines being grown in the Cincinnati aromatic, with unusual body for a white wine. Our Frontenac area. Plantings of Catawba have dwindled substantially since gris wines have been typical of this variety…light bronze in then, but there are still several thousand acres of Concord color, with a pronounced apricot aroma. Because of the and Niagara vines in Ohio, primarily in the “Grape Belt” along high acidity of the U of M varieties, we finish all these wines the Lake Erie shore. Sweet wines made from these varieties (white and rosé) with a small amount of residual sugar, and are quite popular. Over the past several decades, Ohio sterile-filter prior to bottling. growers have been experimenting with higher quality wine Although they have not yet been planted widely in Ohio, I believe grapes, and have planted substantial acreages of French the “cold climate varieties” (U of M and Swenson hybrids) will hybrid and pure vinifera varieties. Wines made from these find a place here, in the colder parts of our state where their varieties have become very popular, especially varieties such winter hardiness is an advantage. In other Eastern states, as Riesling, Pinot gris, and Vidal. these varieties have been planted fairly extensively, and are However, the French hybrid and vinifera varieties are not well proving to make some excellent wines. For example, Lincoln suited to all parts of the state, so some Ohio growers have Peak Vineyard (Vermont) won the Best of Show Red Wine chosen to plant the new U of Minnesota and/or Swenson award for its dry wine, at the 2009 Cold Climate Wine grape varieties. We don’t have any data on the current Competition. And Boyden Valley Winery (also in Vermont) acreage of these “cold climate” varieties in this state, since has won a gold for its first-of-a-kind red ice wine made from this information comes word-of-mouth. Here at the OARDC the Frontenac variety. Boyden Valley makes another of its ice in Wooster, we have test plantings of the four U of M varieties, wines from the U of M white wine variety La Crescent. as well as the newer Cornell varieties. They have only been The most important impact of the U of M/Swenson varieties fruiting for a few seasons, but I thought it might be useful to has been to expand the wine industry into new regions describe their performance thus far. previously considered too cold for grape growing. However, Not surprisingly, the U of M varieties have shown much less in some Eastern states, these cold climate varieties have winter injury than the French hybrids and pure vinifera. For even been planted (albeit on a modest scale) in more example, in January 2009 we experienced unusually cold traditional viticultural regions. For example, in the Hudson temperatures throughout northern Ohio. Here in Wooster we River Valley region of New York State, several wineries recorded a -16° F. temperature on the coldest day. Later that (including the venerable Benmarl Vineyards) produce well winter we evaluated grape varieties for extent of winter injury regarded Frontenac wines. And in the historic Finger Lakes in our OARDC vineyard. The numbers below illustrate the grape growing region, one of the larger wineries recently put percentage of winter injury to the primary buds. It’s obvious in a planting of Frontenac vines specifically for the production that the pure vinifera varieties (the first group) fared the worst, of a port-type dessert wine. In addition, there seems to be a the French hybrid and Cornell varieties were hardier, and the lot of “buzz” in the Eastern states concerning the newest U U of M varieties suffered the least injury. of M introduction, Marquette. In the coming years it will be Cabernet Franc 98% primary bud kill fascinating to watch as the cold hardy Minnesota/Swenson 93% varieties become more widely established in Eastern Seyval 31% Pinot gris 87% viticulture. 30% Frontenac 8% 40% La Crescent 14% Patrick Pierquet, Enology Asst., Ohio State U – OARDC Wooster, OH Vidal 52% Marquette 12% Editor’s Note – Pat Pierquet is a long time MGGA member, a graduate of the University of Minnesota who actually hybridized the seed Although winter hardiness may be their biggest advantage, that has become the Frontenac Grape. He is currently working as the U of M grape varieties also do well in the winery. In a Enology Assistant in the Ohio State University grape and wine our fruit processing lab, we’ve made wines from the U of program at Wooster, Ohio Volume 36, Number 4 7 MGGA 2011 Cold Climate Conference (CCC) February 17-19, 2011 by Lisa Smiley, 2011 Conference Director We are excited to see the 2011 CCC come together and with several viniferas. Please be aware there is a again! We've been very fortunate to secure such $10.00 extra charge for that session which is expected outstanding presenters, who were each hand chosen to ‘sell out’ very early. There will also be sessions on for their skills in topics we felt were relevant, worthy of both Rosés and Ice Wine, two styles very suitable for discussion, and requested by you. We take the CCC our cold climate cultivars. evaluations very seriously and want this to be your The Managing/Marketing Track includes sessions on conference. how a properly written business and marketing plan Each of the tracks are very strong and there will be can lead to success, effectiveness of social networking, very timely information presented. For instance, it was examples of successful tasting rooms, image branding, quite a unique growing season for many of us (Mother's developing a connection between local wines and the Day Freeze, monsoons at harvest time, etc.) and the local food scene, etc. Viticulture Track will have sessions on the importance We are very proud to present you the 2011 CCC of site selection, dealing with seasonal variations, program! In addition, there are more social events dormant pruning techniques and crop estimation, and planned than ever before to allow for more networking ways we can increase the use of sustainable practices. opportunities and for catching up with friends. Attendees are encouraged to bring documentation of problems they are seeing in their vineyards (photos, Registration: www.mngrapes.org/register soil and petiole samples, etc.) for the "Viticulture We promise to take good care of you and look forward Problem Clinic". These concerns will be addressed and to seeing you there! suggestions offered. The Enology Track will have several very interesting and useful workshops, including one on "Identifying, Avoiding and Treating Common Wine Flaws" and this year’s "Winemaker's Roundtable" will be all about blending our cold climate varietals with each other “With a Tweezers in One Hand and a Book in the Other” Winery & Vineyard This biography, Tasting Room • Gift Shop • Art Gallery authored by Open April through December Penny Krosch, Located in the SW Metro, 1 mile records the south of Lydia on MN Hwy 13. life and grape 21646 Langford Ave. (Hwy 13) breeding experience of Jordan, MN 55352 Wisconsin grape pioneer Elmer Swenson. The Book may Email: [email protected] be purchased through MGGA. $15 www.crofutwinery.com Email: [email protected] Phone: 952-492-3227 (492-FAB7) 8 Winter 2010 Winter Greetings from The Cold Climate Conference Committee! by Terri Savaryn

We hope that you are making your plans to attend Our auction committee has started accepting items for this year Cold Climate Conference at the Sheraton the Elmer Swenson Silent Auction. Bloomington Hotel in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Contact Brenda Savaryn or download the Auction Item February 17, 18 and 19, 2011. Form by visiting visit www.mngrapes.org/ccc/ and click Registration: www.mngrapes.org/register Elmer Swenson Silent Auction – Donation Form 2011 This years Conference has a brand new look and a The Trade Show is bigger than ever with a vendor remarkable speaker program! Enclosed in this edition sponsored Picnic lunch on Friday. of NFTN you will find the session times and schedule We have also added several new “Dining-in” events of events. Please examine it thoroughly. There are so which are included in packages. Additions include the many great programs it will be hard to decide what ones Welcome Reception on Thursday evening and a Social to take! As a current member, you can add one guest Hour just before the ever popular Midwest Wine Stroll to your registration at a reduced rate... and ‘ . . . price comparisons show that this CCC is well – an evening of have a second pair of eyes and ears at the below cost of the other similar conferences . . .’ wine excitement! conference and twice the fun. The Gold Medal You can recognize substantial savings as a Minnesota Gala is a dazzling finish to the best conference ever! Grape Growers Association member by simply renewing Our price comparisons show that this CCC is well below your membership on-line at: cost of the other similar conferences, and comparing This is what you have been asking for! On Thursday, apples to apples - the 3-day Holiday Package for 2011 plan to attend the Pre-Conference Workshop “Starting has more meals included and is the same price as last Your Winery, Step by Step” led by well know winery year’s 2 day package with the additions of Thursday consultant, Tom Payette. It is a day long series of evening sessions and the Banquet! presentations that cover everything you need to know Registration: www.mngrapes.org/register about a winery start up. Space is limited!! Terri Savaryn is available to answer all your questions Just to highlight some new ‘bling’ with the conference, and help you with registration. you may first have noticed we have a brand new logo. Contacts for Conference Related Issues: The design incorporates both the grape and wine aspects of our conference using a cluster of our 3 C’s, Terri Savaryn, BOD Conference Chair and the blue swish is the top rim of a chilled wine glass. [email protected] You will see this on the cover of our new comprehensive 1-912-223-0288 program guide booklet that will contain all you need to Lisa Smiley, 2011 Conference Director know at the 2011 Cold Climate Conference. [email protected] Consider using the new program guide yourself by 1-651-492-5393 placing an ad or even sponsor a speaker, and receive valuable advertising space and exposure for your Cheri Anderson, Membership business! We are still looking for Major Sponsors [email protected] and have lots of opportunities available. visit www. 651-764-5599 mngrapes.org/ccc/ and click Online Exhibitor Friendly Registration System (for vendors) Volume 36, Number 4 9

Edition: 12.22.10

New Events Thursday Evening February 17 - 19, 2011 The fun starts with a . Welcome Reception Minneapolis, MN (952) 835-7800 Clickwww.mngrapes.org/register here to register for Conference http://www.starwoodmeeting.com/StarGroupsWeb/booking/reservation?id=1011080159&key=D3C3DClick for Reservations with hors d’ouerves to Click here to register for Conference kick off the trade show and sessions. 4:30 - 6:00 pm Destined for Success Grand Ballroom Foyer A Better Value! A New Look! An Expanded Program! The MGGA Cold Climate Grape and Wine Conference has expanded its Trade Show and Program. Early Friday Afternoon Registration discounts for members available through January 22, 2011. No Need to Leave! Become an MGGA member now, and enjoy significant savings! Dues only $45 per year! Picnic Lunch in the trade show area. The 2011 Cold Climate Conference is hosting the largest grape and wine industry trade show in the Upper 12:00 - 2:00 pm Trade Show Hall Midwest, offering a pre-conference Winery Workshop, plus three tracks of educational sessions focusing on viticulture, enology, and marketing/management. Friday Evening The MGGA is hosting a Social Hour before the Wine Stroll. 6:00 - 7:00 pm Plaza Court

NEW FOR 2011 Pre-Conference Thursday Workshop 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Starting Your Winery Successfully, Bring your Bling! Step by Step… MGGA GOLD MEDAL GALA This year’s banquet features gold medal wines from the International Cold Led by well known winery Climate Wine Competition paired with a coordinating menu. consultant Tom Payette Saturday Evening in the Ballroom Includes Coffee, Lunch, Thursday Jump Start, & Welcome Reception. The Elmer Swenson Memorial Silent Auction is back on Friday and Saturday for 2 days of intensive bidding. Discounts for 2 or more Space is limited!! Contact Brenda Savaryn if you have an item to donate to the auction. [email protected] or http://www.mngrapes.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/AuctionDownload the Auction Form DonationForm.pdf 10 Winter 2010

NEW! Thursday Workshop – 9:00 am - 4:00 pm - The day long workshop “Starting Your Winery Successfully, Step by Step” led by well known winery consultant, Tom Payette. Includes Grand Tour All Inclusive Package coffee and donuts, lunch, Welcome Reception, and all Thursday Night Jump Start sessions. Thursday Winery Workshop Thursday Night Jump Start Welcome Reception - 4:30 - 6:00 pm - Thursday Night Jump Start - 6:00 - 9:00 pm Friday Sessions Three hours of enology and viticulture sessions great for all experience levels. There will also be a Friday Social Hour “How To” presentation by the TTB on labels, taxes, and compliance. Piano by Michelle Glaser. Friday Wine Stroll Best Saturday Sessions Value! Friday Conference – 8:20 am - 5:00 pm - A full day of educational sessions divided into three Trade Show Access distinct tracks: Viticulture, Enology, and Marketing/Management, starting with a Keynote Address MGGA Gold Medal Gala by University of Minnesota’s Kent Gustafson “Vineyards, Wineries and Ag Tourism: Everyone $550 1st $575 1st $725 1st $450 Add’l $475 Add’l $725 Add’l Wins!” Includes Continental Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, breaks and access to the Trade Show. Early Registration After Jan. 22nd Non-Member

NEW! Friday Social Hour – 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm - Held in the Plaza prior to the Wine Stroll, Conference Holiday with passed hors d’oeuvres, food stations, and a cash bar. Network and unwind after a long day of 3-day Package sessions while eating-in before the Wine Stroll. Thursday Night Jump Start Friday Sessions Wine Stroll - 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm - A must attend event! Enjoy the Midwest’s best wines and Friday Social Hour locally grown appetizers while listening to the sweet Calypso sounds of Chad Stoltenberg. Friday Wine Stroll Saturday Sessions Saturday Conference – 8:30 am - 5:00 pm - A full day of educational sessions continuing the Trade Show Access three distinct tracks: Viticulture, Enology, and Marketing/Management, starting with a keynote MGGA Gold Medal Gala address by Nick Ferrante: “Ferrante Winery, Professionalism and Profits”. Includes Breakfast, $350 1st $375 1st $475 1st $325 Add’l $350 Add’l $475 Add’l Lunch, breaks and Trade Show. Early Registration After Jan. 22nd Non-Member

Trade Show - Thursday 4:30 pm - Saturday 2:00 pm - The Trade Show starts on Thursday and promises to be bigger and better than ever. Conference Getaway 2-day Package MGGA Gold Medal Gala - Saturday 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm - Featuring award winning wines from Friday Sessions Friday Social Hour the International Cold Climate Wine Competition paired with a coordinating menu and desserts. Friday Wine Stroll Special Address to be determined. Saturday Sessions Trade Show Access A LA CARTE PRICING MGGA Gold Medal Gala Become an MGGA Member and Save... dues only $45 a year! $325 per $350 per $425 per ITEM Before - 1/22 After - 1/22 Non-member Early Registration After Jan. 22nd Non-Member Winery Workshop $250 - 1st $250 - 1st $300 $150 - Add’l $150 - Add’l Thursday Night Jump Start $35 $50 $60 For more information please Friday Conference $130 $150 $165 visit the MGGA Website Saturday Conference $120 $135 $150 www.mngrapes.org Friday Social Hour $20 $20 $20 Wine Stroll $25 $30 $30 Or Contact Lisa Smiley MGGA Gold Medal Gala $50 $50 $50 [email protected] Trade Show Only $20 $20 $20 Winemakers’ Roundtable $10 $10 $10 Register for the conference www.mngrapes.org/registerClick Here to Register

Major Sponsors MGGA Cold Climate Grape Follow us and Wine Conference online! @Smiley4 Volume 36, Number 4 11

2011 cold climaTe conference schedule of eVenTs Edition: 12.23.10 Thursday all-day Workshop - sTarTing your Winery successfully, sTep-by-sTep 8:00 - 9:00: Workshop Registration Opens - Coffee and Donuts 9:00 - 9:50: Regulatory Issues - Rob Schellhorn, Tonya Holland, TTB 10:00-10:50: What kind of winery do you want to be? - Tom Payette with Dr. Gerald White, Cornell University 9:00 am - 4:00 pm 11:10-12:30: Money Matters - Dr. Gerald White, Cornell University 12:30-1:45: Box Lunch 1:50-2:50: A Guide to Facility Design - Tom Payette 3:00-4:00: Winery Equipment Budgeting and Planning - Tom Payette with Nick Smith, University of MN Tom Payette, Winery Consultant, Chair and Moderator Thursday - regisTraTion opens aT 4:00 pm, Trade shoW opens 4:30 pm 4:30 - 5:50 pm Welcome recepTion - food and drink 5:50 - 6:00 pm Welcome address by mgga presidenT ViTiculTure 1 enology 1 Site Selection In Cold Climates TTb 1 Fruit and Juice Quality Issues in and GIS as an Aid Guide to Online 6:10 - 7:00 pm Pre-Fermentation (temperature, pressing) Peter Hemstad Label Approval Katie Cook University of Minnesota Tonya Holland University of Minnesota Mark Hart TTB Wisconsin Trade shoW ViTiculTure 2 TTb 2 enology 2 Site Preparation #1: Matching Site, Cultivar Guide to Online What You Need For Healthy Fermentations Opens 7:10 - 8:00 pm and Training System Tax Payment Michael Jones 4:30 pm Scott Labs John Thull Tonya Holland University of Minnesota TTB ViTiculTure 3 fda 1 enology 3 Site Preparation #2: Young Vineyard Care FDA on Bioterrorism SO2: Appropriate Use vs. Misuse & Neglect 8:10 - 9:00 pm (grow tubes, vine and row spacing, tying up) Act Compliance Dr. Anna Katharine Mansfield Dr. Paolo Sabbatini Chauntra Rideaux Michigan State University Public Affairs Specialist, FDA friday - regisTraTion opens aT 7:00 am - conTinenTal breakfasT 7:00 - 8:30 am 8:20 - 8:30 am Welcome by mgga presidenT plenary session 8:40 - 9:30 am Professionalism and Profits - Richard Leahy Vineyards, Wineries and Agri-Tourism; a Win-Win Situation - Kent Gustafson U of MN markeTing 1 ViTiculTure 4 Join the Locavore Movement: Eat & Drink Local enology 4 Best Practices for Growing Quality Cold Climate Grapes Lisa Smiley Oak Barrel Alternatives Moderator Peter Hemstad 9:40 - 10:30 am Dr. Steve Menke John Garland Chris Granstrom Colorado State University Heavy Table - MN Randall Vos Brick Packaging Lee Zukor Seth McFarland Simple, Good, and Tasty Dan Schwarz Lift Bridge Brewery - MN 10:30 - 11:00 am break - coffee and cookies ViTiculTure 4 conT. enology 5 markeTing 2 Responding to Severe Seasonal Variation Enological Tannins: Their Effect on Structure, Understanding and Using or Traumatic Weather Events 11:00 - 11:50 am Flavor, Color and Mouthfeel Social Media Networking Peter Hemstad Michael Jones Brad Johnson Chris Granstrom Scott Labs Winedustry - IA Trade Randall Vos Bring your laptop Seth McFarland shoW 12:00 - 2:00 pm picnic lunch in TradeshoW enology 6 ViTiculTure 5 2:00 - 2:50 pm Rosé Processing using Cold Climate Reds markeTing 3 Crop Estimation And Dormant Pruning Katie Cook Branding Your Image and University of Minnesota Video and Workshop Label Design Dr. Paolo Sabbatini enology 7 Ben Banks Michigan State University SFA Design - MN 3:00 - 3:50 pm Planning for Wine Quality Randall Vos Patricia Howe Des Moines Area Community College ETS Labs

markeTing 4 ViTiculTure 6 Wine TasTing for A Virtual Tour of Tasting Bird Netting Workshop 4:00 - 4:50 pm groWers & Winemakers Rooms MaryJo & Denny Thaden Richard Leahy Others TBA Patty Held Patty Held Winery Consulting - MO

6:00 - 7:00 pm friday nighT social hour - plaza courT 7:00 - 9:00 pm midWesT Wine sTroll 12 Winter 2010

saTurday - regisTraTion opens aT 7:00 am 7:00 - 8:30 am breakfasT sponsored by kaufman conTainer 8:30 - 9:20 am keynoTe address - “ferranTe Winery, professionalism and profiTs” Nick Ferrante - OH markeTing 5 ViTiculTure 7 enology 8 From Business Plan to Viticulture Problem Clinic Demo, Q&A Identifying, Avoiding and Treating Common Mark Hart Market Success Wine Flaws WI 1. The Business Plan 9:30 - 10:20 am Dr. Anna-Katharine Mansfield Dr. Cliff Ohmart E. Slater Cornell University SureHarvest - CA In Short Marketing - CA Dr. Murli Dharmadhikari Dimitre Mollov Patty Held Iowa State University University of Minnesota Patty Held Winery Consulting Steve Gamet University of Nebraska-Lincoln

10:20 - 10:50 am Trade shoW coffee break ViTiculTure 8 enology 8 conT. Grape Growers Roundtable markeTing 5 conT. Trade Identifying, Avoiding and Treating Common 1. Understanding Fruit Chemistry, its Impact 2. The Marketing Plan shoW Wine Flaws, Iowa Quality Assurance Intro 10:50 - 11:20 am on Wine Quality E. Slater Dr. Anna-Katharine Mansfield In Short Marketing - CA Cornell University Katie Cook, University of Minnesota Patty Held Dr. Murli Dharmadhikari Patty Held Winery Consulting - MO Iowa State University Peter Hemstad University of Minnesota ViTiculTure 8 conT.

enology 9 2. Negotiating Fruit Quality Parameters markeTing 5 conT. and Harvest Timing 3. Successful Examples 11:30 - 12:20 pm Red and White Ice Wine Production Nick Ferrante Peter Hemstad Brad Johnson University of Minnesota Ferrante Winery - OH Winedustry - IA Steve Gamet University of Nebraska-Lincoln 12:30 - 2:00 pm lunch enology 10 ViTiculTure 9 * Review of the 2010 Int. Cold Climate Wine Summary of Cold Climate Grant - (1:45-2:00) Competition Results Dr. Jim Luby markeTing 6 University of Minnesota 2:00 - 2:50 pm Impressive Website Design for Wineries Judge panel: Katie Cook, Annette Peters, * ViTiculTure 9 ViTiculTure 10 Ben Banks Bob Parke sTarTs aT 1:45 pm Sustainable Winegrowing SFA Design - MN Top Wineries Panel: Chris Granstrom, Angie Bring your laptop and the Role of IPM - (2:00 - 2:50) Winter, Martin Polognioli Dr. Cliff Ohmart Gordon Rouse SureHarvest -CA Moderator enology 11

Winemakers Roundtable: ViTiculTure 11 The Art of the Blend Fungal Disease Management markeTing 7 Keys to A Successful Tasting Room Goals and Old World models 1. Canopy Management for Disease Control Cold Climate White Blends with Reisling 3:00 - 4:50 pm Elizabeth Slater Brianna, Frontenac Gris, La Crescent 2. Fungal Disease Management: materials, In Short Marketing - CA Cold Climate Red Blends w/ Cab. Sauvignon schedules, economics Patty Held Patty Held Winery Consulting -MO Marquette, Frontenac, St. Croix Dr. Mike Ellis Patricia Howe Ohio State University ETS Labs Dr.Steve Menke Colorado State University mgga gold medal gala 7:00 - 9:00 pm guesT speaker Tba Schedule is Subject to Change Without Notice

February 17 - 19, 2011

Minneapolis, MN . (952) 835-7800

Major Sponsors: Volume 36, Number 4 13 Committee Members WANTED MGGA is looking for enthusiastic input about membership Falconer Vineyards benefits. We are assembling a committee in an effort to achieve a broad perspective from each of the following: Winery & Nursery a) Commercial Winery Specializing in northern b) Commercial Vineyard winter hardy varieties c) Amateur Grower by the University of d) Amateur Winemaker Minnesota and e) Wine and/or Grape Enthusiast Meetings would be in the form of conference calls, where Elmer Swenson. the participants call into a toll free number and have an open and casual exchange of ideas. Our first meeting would be Falconer Vineyards & Winery a face-to-face at the 7th Annual Conference held February 17-19, 2011. Please contact [email protected] Open: Sat. & Sun. Year ‘round if you would like to participate on this committee. Wine Tasting: $5 per person Photos Wanted Fridays Noon - 5pm (late April through Christmas) MGGA Website Committee Saturdays 10am - 6pm Sundays noon-5pm As most of us in the industry are up to our necks in harvest and knee deep in the winemaking season, Contact: [email protected] MGGA has been busy working on a brand new website. 3572 Old Tyler Rd. Red Wing, MN 55066 Of course we had hoped for a launch date by now, but it 651-388-8849 will be very soon. We are looking for GREAT vineyard www.FalconerVineyards.com photos that capture the Midwest flavor of grapegrowing and winemaking, so all four seasons are wanted. FREE SUSTAINABLE A possible contest may be held, from photos we use, for non-cash prizes. Since MGGA is a non-profit WINEGROWING GUIDE organization operating on a minimal budget, we want Published by the California Sustainable winegrowing only photos that will be released at no associated cost, Alliance, Reducing Risks through Sustainable provisions, or ‘photo credits’. We will also require a winegrowing: A Grower’s Guide”, is available online at: signed release of photo(s). We may manipulate the www.sustainablewinegrowing.org/agrowersguide.php size for web use, crop to the appropriate scene, and The focus of this guide is on the use of sustainable may also edit out any logos or names that could make practices to help reduce it distinctly identifiable to a particular vineyard, winery, risk and help with CALIFORNIA sust AINABLe or region. If you have any questions about the criteria, w IN egROw INg long-term viability ALLIANCe please contact Tami Bredeson, Website Coordinator Benefiting the environment, the community and high quality gr of grapegrowing apes and wine at [email protected] enterprises. CRITERIA: Photos must be submitted electronically; A l t h o u g h Reducing Risks through while different digital cameras take photos at varying M i d w e s t e r n Sustainable Winegrowing: resolutions, a good way to judge acceptable files may A Growers’ Guide vineyards are be by submitting photos that are at minimum 600kb, California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance not the same but not larger than 5mb (do not send combined photos Project funded by the United States Department of a s t h o s e i n Agriculture, Risk Management Agency greater than 5mb in a single transmission); provide California, many a brief description of each photo, clearly associated of the principles with each photo file; must be submitted in their original format, (jpg/tif) and not inserted into MS Word or any will be the same. like program. Photos should be tasteful and not contain December 2008 www.sustainablewinegrowing.org any indecent acts, either expressed or implied. 14 Winter 2010 Specialty Crop Growers: Get a better handle on your bottom line! Farm Business Management Scholarships Available

Call Meg Moynihan 651-201-6616

Northern Vineyards STILLWATER • MINNESOTA •

Since 1977, we have specialized in the production of wines S from locally-grown grapes. Current offerings include St. Croix, St. Pepin, , Laura’s Laughter, Edelweiss, Frontenac, Foch, La Crescent, Pinot noir, Pinot gris, Prairie Star, and Gewurztraminer.

For Harvest 2010, we offer grapes, pressed juice, and bulk wine to wineries in the Upper Midwest.

For quantities and pricing, contact: Robin at 651-430-1032 during early August, or email to [email protected] Volume 36, Number 4 15 Whassup In Iowa – The 2010 Report by Michael L. White, SU Extension Viticulture Specialist Midwest Grape & Wine Industry Institute 2010 was a challenging year for grape growers in Iowa. The south half of Iowa saw record rainfall levels creating heightened disease infestations that in many cases destroyed entire crops. Growers were often not able to get into their vineyards for weeks at a time due to the constant rain. The further north you went in Iowa the crop got better with our best crops being in northwest Iowa where we have the least number of vineyards. Then there was the Mother’s Day frost that hit vineyards primarily in the central latitude of the state. Like I said, it was a very challenging year. My guess is that we ended up with about half of a winegrape crop for 2010. Though the grape crop may have suffered, the industry continued to grow. Here are some figures for the last three years ending in June of each year that show this growth: 2008 2009 2010­­ in Iowa and more vineyards are Number of wineries 74 73 86 improving their operations with Total wine sales in gallons 170,478 195,262 224,428 cold storage facilities, larger grape Sold at retail 61.1% 55.1% 48.3% picking bins, more expensive airblast Sold through wholesale distributors 3.1% 2.2% 2.1% sprayers, more intensive spray Direct wholesale sales 35.8% 42.7% 49.6% schedules and marketing methods. Total wine production in gallons 252,753 292,907 279,853 Our winemakers are getting much better at making quality wines. Total wine sales in gallons 170,479 195,262 224,428 Slowly but surely, our industry is Native wine excise tax collected $112.866 $151,681 $202,874 growing and maturing. Our native Iowa is certainly no Napa Valley, but we have been Iowa wineries now have a 5.75% market share of the growing our wine industry over the last 10 years total retail wine sales in Iowa. The future still looks good! from when we first started with only two winegrape [email protected] or 515-681-7286 wineries in the state. The economic impact study we commissioned with MKF Research out of St. Helena, CA this year showed that our Iowa wine industry had a $234.8 million total economic impact for Iowa. It showed that for every $1 spent on native wine, another $30 in economic impact occurred. I am sure this is no anomaly and similar impacts can be seen for the winegrape industries of our neighboring states. It shows that wine is the seed that sprouts catering, events, weddings, meetings, tourism, lodging, transportation, and local food and gift sales. Our industry is maturing. A few smaller wineries and vineyards are quitting while many are expanding. We now have six mechanical grape harvesters operating

ITEMS FOR SALE Two Japanese mini-trucks with A1 misters for sale Both are in excellent condition • Diahatsu truck w/100 gallon tank and A1 mister, $10,500 • Mitsubishi truck with 50 gallon A1 mister, $10,000

Call 507.252.9512 for more details. 16 Winter 2010 SOME BENEFITS OF THE FRUSTRATING produced from secondary buds and no disease damage at all. These were "Prairie Star" and "Marquette". 2010 GROWING SEASON And few of my own hybrids, most of them crosses of St. Alexandru Bortnov, Shoreview, MN Pepin and Thompson Seedless also produced well and Sounds strange, but this year was a treasure for me as resisted diseases very well too. One of these crosses an amateur grape breeder. For the last 7 years I have appear to me to be very promising - AMB 15-6 (see not sprayed any chemicals on my vines and have not picture). At the middle of September I checked the used any fertilizer, just to initiate difficult conditions for Brix and acidity for some of these crosses as well as my grapes and to help make better selections when some local varieties. Grapes of AMB 15-6 had uniform developing new varieties. ripeness and a good size cluster. The Brix was in the range of 20.5 % -21.5%, and acidity was perfect too - pH This growing season was full of surprises. was in a range 3.5-3.6, which I believe First of all was the late frost on Mother's is excellent acidity for our local varieties. Day. Such a hard late spring frost is not Most of the local varieties, as we know, common in this area. In the last 12 years, have high acidity and usually pH in the since I have been growing grapes here range of 2.9-3.4. The taste, pulp and I have not endured so much damage as skin texture of AMB 15-6 reminds me during the spring this year. In the future Chardonnay. I found no off flavors when I am considering using a thicker plastic I tasted the grapes or juice from this cover or bubble wrap or even blankets hybrid. I hope that in a couple of years instead of using thin plastic and thin this vine will produce enough grapes to paper sheets used in past to protect my make test samples of wine. more valuable grapes during late frost. In my view, the main benefits of AMB- On a good portion of my vineyard I 15-6 is the ability to remain healthy sprinkled water during the entire night even under extreme disease pressure. from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. on May 8, to prevent It also appears able to maintain good damage from late frost. However, this did Promising Bortnov Hybrid AMB production even from secondary buds not help me at all. Later I received advice 16-5. A cross of St. Pepin and Thompson Seedless. in the event of late frost. It has a from Davis, California to sprinkle water very moderate acidity compared to in a future frost event until 8 a.m. because the lowest most local varieties. In comparison, Chardonnay is temperatures are between 6-7.30 a.m. in the morning. not able to remain healthy without using fungicides. All my primary buds on all my grape vines were killed In my view, this is because Chardonnay does not on that night. And that was a good test for all my grapes contain enough resveratrol, antioxidants and vitamins (selected from my crosses and for my collection of local to withstand fungal diseases and of course, is not grapes varieties) to find out which ones can or cannot hardy enough for our area. In addition, AMB 15-6 produce well from the secondary buds. is much earlier than Chardonnay. By the middle of Also this past season was good for my research in September AMB 15-6 was fully ripe, whereas for me another way. The abundance of hot, humid, rainy Chardonnay usually ripens at the beginning of October. weather created a lot of different diseases, mainly I would like also to mention my research for this season Powdery Mildew, Downy Mildew, and Black Rot. I about some specific varieties growing in my vineyard observed all of the selections and varieties which grew and representing some interest for Northern Viticulture shoots from secondary buds for how they would resist -- ES 6-16-30, Swenson Red, Skujins -675, and Valiant. these difficult conditions. It is interesting to note that All these did not do very well for me this growing practically all vines produced flowers from secondary season because they were not able to withstand difficult buds, but these flowers were not as viable as those conditions. Some did not pollinate well, some were from primary buds. The size of produced clusters were badly diseased and all had much smaller and fewer about 30% or even 50% smaller than regular size for clusters from secondary buds than in years past. I just about every variety. In addition production was checked Brix for ES 6-16-30 twice, the third week of minimal (around 3%) and most of these were affected by August and mid-September and acidity as well. What fungal diseases. Only two local varieties showed good was interesting - ES 6-16-30 had very good acidity (pH production (around 70-80%) of medium size clusters was at range 3.5-3.55), but Brix remained the same 18- Volume 36, Number 4 17 18.5%. In almost three weeks the Brix did not change. 2011 — BOARD OF DIRECTOR It was also a little bit lower than what I expected. NOMINATIONS UNDERWAY I also checked the Brix and acidity of Swenson Red, by David Duddleston, Nominating Committee Skujins-675 and Valiant . Swenson Red had low sugar The Board of Director’s is recruiting members interested levels, around 16.5-17.0%. The pH was 3.1-3.2. in serving on the MGGA Board of Directors. Once Skujins had a little higher pH than last year, 3.4-3.5 again, we welcome online submissions of interest. compare to last year -3.6. However, the Brix was better this year 20.5% versus last year’s maximum of 18.9%. Your Board has developed a list of skills we consider Valiant had wide variation of Brix on the same grape important for those who serve. We are using this list as cluster, between 16-20%. The pH was only 3.1 which a benchmark against which to identify skills of current is close to the acidity of wild grapes. members and fill positions with candidates who can help further Board knowledge and experience. We have In conclusion, I would like to say that even a frustrating listed these qualities in a matrix which is available on growing season like the past one can bring some benefits MGGA’s website. and even joy to area grape growers. You just need to look for the benefits by looking for what has survived well and Between now and our next Annual Meeting, January what performed well and you will find them. 22, 2011, we are recruiting future Board candidates. We encourage each of you to consider applying. Scott Laboratories, suppliers to North American wineries, Please visit www.mngrapes.org and click on the BOD posts two new publications for cold climate winemakers nomination application to apply on-line. A member of “Yeast Strains for Cold Hardy Winegrape Cultivars” the Board’s Nominating Committee will contact you. http://www.scottlab.com/uploads/documents/HybridWinegrapeCultivars.pdf If you prefer to complete a paper application, please “Tannin and Hybrid Varieties” download the printable version of the application and http://www.scottlab.com/uploads/documents/TanninHybrid.pdf send to D. Duddleston as instructed. We welcome your application. Grape Growing “101” The Basics of Starting and Developing A Northern Vineyard Saturday, January 15, 2011 Registration 8:30 a.m. PROGRAM 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Location: Great River Vineyard Salesroom • Site Selection and Vineyard Layout • Soil Preparation and Planting All Day • Weed Control and Pest Control Seminar • Trellising, Spray Program, Pruning • Cold Hardy Varieties • Markets and Marketing Your Harvest Contact us for more information at: Great River Vineyard/Nursery 35680 Hwy. 61 Blvd. Lake City, MN 55041 Website: www.greatrivervineyard.com [email protected] 18 Winter 2010 Silent Auction • 2nd Annual Elmer Swenson Scholarship Fund On February 18, 2011 we are hosting the 2nd annual MGGA Silent Auction. The auction is a great opportunity to gain new customer contacts. Please consider donating a good or service, valued at any amount. We will provide signage for you at the display table along with a listing in the Auction Donor directory. Please feel free to contact Brenda Savaryn with questions or to discuss your donation. We hope to gather donations early and aid in the conference planning and directory printing process. Please let us know if your commitment by returning the completed form below. Donations or gift certificates can be dropped off at the conference on Thursday, February 17. We will provide you with a letter for tax purposes acknowledging your donation to the Elmer Swenson Scholarship Fund. For more information, please visit www.mngrapes.org/ccc and click Elmer Swenson Silent Auction – Donation Form 2011

Please mail, Fax, or Email the completed Form to Brenda Savaryn

Contact Information Business Name______

Brenda Savaryn Contact Name______

[email protected] W152 1st Street City______St______Zip______Nelson, WI 54756 Phone (______)______-______, Ext.______Ph 1-715-307-3700 Fax 651-388-2001 Email______

Item Description______

______Item Retail Value $______

MGGA MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL

PLEASE PRINT LEGIBLY q RENEWAL q New/Change 1) Are you a grower? q yes q no Winemaker? q yes q no

Name:______Other?______

Business:______2) q Amateur q Professional

Address:______3) How many vines do you have planted? ______

City:______Future plans?______

State/Province:______4) What is the predominate variety planted?______Zip:______Country:______Phone:(______)______Future plans?______Email:______q Yes, I prefer to receive my quarterly newsletter via email instead of receiving it by mail at the reduced membership Join or renew by visiting www.mngrapes.org or rate of $40. This option requires a valid email address. complete & mail this form and your $45 check to: MGGA (Minnesota Grape Growers Assn.) *Membership dues are $45, but by choosing your NFTN be 433 West Third Street, Suite 1 sent via email, your membership is discounted $5 to $40. Red Wing, MN 55066 19 February 17 - 19, 2011 2011 CCC REGISTRATION FORM Register online: www.mngrapes.org/register — Please Print Legibly — Major Sponsors ______ne First Name Last Name

t O ______n Street Address a r ______

st City / State or Province / Zip Code / Country if outside US i g

e ______

R Company Name Title ______Member Email Address Phone Type of registrant — please check one: q Owner, Pres., CEO, GM q Winery Admin. or Purchasing q Vineyard Manager q Vineyard Owner q Media & Public Relations q Student or Trainee q Research & Academia q Winery Owner q Winemaker q Vineyard Staff q Speaker q Moderator q Wine Enthusiast q Grape Grower q Hobbiest 2011 Current membership required for Member discount pricing E eNter $ Amount Here Membership: q New q Renewal q $40 Electronic q $45 Paper Ver. q $0 2011 Member q $0 Non-Member.. $______Conference Itinerary Early RegistratION after Jan. 22 Non-Member Grand Tour - All inclusive...... q $550...... q $575...... q $725...... $______Holiday - 3 Day Package...... q $350...... q $375...... q $475...... $______Getaway - 2 Day Package...... q $325...... q $350...... q $425...... $______A LA CARTE Choices:------Workshop/thursday Jumpstart... q $250...... q $250...... q $300...... $______Grand Tour thursday Jumpstart...... q $35...... q $50...... q $60...... $______All Inclusive Package q q q Thursday Winery Workshop Friday Conference...... $130...... $150...... $165...... $______Thursday Night Jump Start Saturday Conference...... q $120...... q $135...... q $150...... $______Friday Sessions Friday Social Hour...... q $20...... q $20...... q $20...... $______Friday Social Hour Friday Wine Stroll...... q $25...... q $30...... q $30...... $______Friday Wine Stroll Best MGGA Gold Medal Gala...... q $50...... q $50...... q $50...... $______Saturday Sessions Value! Trade Show ONLY...... q $20...... q $20...... q $20...... $______Trade Show Access WINEMAKERS ROUNDTABLE*...... q $10...... q $10...... q $10...... $______MGGA Gold Medal Gala Registrant -1- Total...... $ $550 1st $575 1st $725 1st $450 Add’l $475 Add’l $725 Add’l ______

WO First Name Last Name

Early Registration After Jan. 22nd Non-Member T ______t Street Address (IF DIFFERENT FROM ABOVE) n

a ______Conference Holiday r City / State or Province / Zip Code / Country if outside US (IF DIFFERENT FROM ABOVE)

3-Day Package st i ______Thursday Night Jump Start g Company Name (IF DIFFERENT FROM ABOVE) Title e

Friday Sessions R ______Friday Social Hour Email Address (IF DIFFERENT FROM ABOVE) Phone (IF DIFFERENT FROM ABOVE) Friday Wine Stroll Type of registrant — please check one: q Owner, Pres., CEO, GM q Winery Admin. or Purchasing q Vineyard Manager Saturday Sessions q Vineyard Owner q Media & Public Relations q Student or Trainee q Research & Academia q Winery Owner q Winemaker q Vineyard Staff q Speaker q Moderator q Wine Enthusiast q Grape Grower q Hobbiest Trade Show Access Enter $ Amount Here MGGA Gold Medal Gala Conference Itinerary Early RegistratION after Jan. 22 Non-Member $350 1st $375 1st $475 1st Grand Tour - All inclusive...... q $450...... q $475...... q $725...... $______$325 Add’l $350 Add’l $475 Add’l Early Registration After Jan. 22nd Non-Member Holiday - 3 Day Package...... q $325...... q $350...... q $475...... $______Getaway - 2 Day Package...... q $325...... q $350...... q $425...... $______Conference Getaway A LA CARTE Choices:------2-Day Package Workshop/thursday Jumpstart... q $150...... q $150...... q $300...... $______Friday Sessions thursday Jumpstart...... q $35...... q $50...... q $60...... $______Friday Social Hour Friday Conference...... q $130...... q $150...... q $165...... $______Friday Wine Stroll Saturday Conference...... q $120...... q $135...... q $150...... $______Saturday Sessions Friday Social Hour...... q $20...... q $20...... q $20...... $______q q q Trade Show Access Friday Wine Stroll...... $25...... $30...... $30...... $______q q q MGGA Gold Medal Gala MGGA Gold Medal Gala...... $50...... $50...... $50...... $______Trade Show ONLY...... q $20...... q $20...... q $20...... $______$325 per $350 per $425 per Early Registration After Jan. 22nd Non-Member WINEMAKERS ROUNDTABLE*...... q $10...... q $10...... q $10...... $______*Winemakers Roundtable Registrant -2- Total...... $ Not Included - must purchase ADD RegistrantS 1 and 2 if applicable Grand TOTAL...... $______separately - $10 (limited seating)

Mail Lisa Smiley, Conf. Director Payment Method: q Check If Credit Card, complete and sign below. q Visa q MC q AmEx or 10500 310th St Way Fax ______to: Cannon Falls, MN 55009 PRINT FIRST NAME (if different from above) Cardholder Signature Ph: 651-492-5393 if questions ______Fax: 651-258-4400 Street Address / City / State / Zip EXACTLY AS IT APPEARS on CREDIT CARD STATEMENT (If different from above) d. 12.23.10 d.

[email protected] CC# ______Security #______Exp. Date______E Minnesota Grape Growers Association MDT & Associates President: Thomas W. Martell 3319 York Ave. N. Secretary: Richard C. Mollin Treasurer: Bob Dubiel Minneapolis, MN 55422 Board of Directors: Ronald L. Barnes, Tamara Bredeson, David J. Local: (763) 529-4355 Duddleston, Dr. Gary Gardner, Rudy Jungwirth, Toll Free: 1-888-530-7082 Kori Knudsen, John Maloney, Thomas Mohn, Rob Nelson, Alan K. Olson, Larry Olson, Fax: (763) 522-5843 Cyndi L. Ross, Teresa Savaryn, Bruce Smith, E-Mail: [email protected] Nicholas Smith, John Thull, Mark Wedge, www.mdtgrow.com Lawrence Westerberg, Dr. James Luby - ex officio Editor: John Marshall Call MaryJo for a free catalog Purpose Statement: The Minnesota Grape Growers Association (MGGA) was formed to further the art and science of growing grapes in cold climates. The Association sponsors grape growing instructional Supplies for Vineyards workshops and events for those interested in learning more about grape SERVING GROWERS LIKE growing and winemaking in Minnesota. Pruning Shears, Saws, Loppers SINCE 1986!YOU Membership Information: Both amateur and experienced commercial Grafting Supplies growers are invited to join. Membership is *$40 per year and includes the electronic version/notice of Notes From The North, our quarterly Grow Tubes and Bamboo Stakes newsletter and, for new members, a booklet, Growing Grapes in Minnesota. Send check to Cheri Anderson, 433 West 3rd Street, Ste. 1, Trellising Hardware, Earth Anchors, Wire, Tying supplies Red Wing, MN 55066 or visit www.mngrapes.org to join/renew online. Bird Netting and Applicator, Bird Gard Alarms, Cannons Email: [email protected] Refractometers and pH Meters Advertisement: $50 per quarterly issue or $175 per year for ¼ page. Deer Repellent, Picking Shears, Grape Forks Contact the editor for additional advertising information. MacroBins and Picking Lugs E-mail: [email protected] COPYRIGHT INFORMATION: Unless otherwise noted all material may be copied, Viticulture and Wine-making Books quoted, etc., provided the author and MGGA are credited. The editor authors all material and photographs without a designated author or source. Fast, Friendly Service! *Membership is $45 if you choose to receive the newsletter via US Mail and electronically.

STD PRST MAIL Notes From The North US Postage Minnesota Grape Growers Association Paid Permit #375 433 West 3rd Street, Ste. 1 Red Wing, MN Red Wing, MN 55066 55066

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