CORNER S ’ T N E D I S Notes From The North E The quarterly newsletter of the Minnesota Grape Growers Association R P Volume 35, Number 4 Winter 2009 The 2009 growing season and excel in always presenting the MGGA in the comes to an end leaving many of us with a best possible manner. Thanks to each of you. smile and great sense of relief. The summer I’m also grateful for the hard work of the many was coolish, cloudy and fairly dry. With the number volunteers who devoted time to Association activities of “heat degree days” well below average, growers throughout the year. Our Board of Directors consists of were concerned about ability to ripen the crop. Deb unpaid volunteers. Besides the annual BOD meeting and I paid particular attention to leaf thinning this schedule, several devoted significant additional time as summer with the idea of maximizing exposure of committee chairs, event chairs, and, in Kori Knudsen’s the fruit to the limited sunlight. Thankfully, the sunshine, case, strategic planning. Paula Soholt served as the and a string of 80+ degree days, returned in early 2009 and 2010 conference director — and served on September and the fruit ripened to workable levels. the very successful International Cold Climate Wine With the summer of 2009 behind us, the idea of “bud Competition committee with its able Chairman, MGGA swell” and “three inch shoots” next spring already has member Gordon Rouse. Through it all, Treasurer us looking forward to 2010. But, alas, the all important Ronald Barnes kept our MGGA finances in order. I owe pruning is our next vineyard task on the calendar. a debt of gratitude to all of these folks. Many thanks. As I write this in this Thanksgiving holiday season I am Please consider joining this exceptional team of reminded of all this Association and the industry have talented folks to help us move the industry forward by provided us in 2009. volunteering your skills for an event, or, running for the Deb and I are thankful for the network of great folks we Board of Directors. Contact nominations chair, Dave met through grapes this year, for the many folks who Duddleston. helped with the harvest, for the bountiful crop and for All the best to you in this holiday season; I hope to see our buyers, who support locally grown. you at the MGGA Annual Meeting January 23, 2010 and As an MGGA member I am grateful to the Association the Cold Climate Conference Feb.11-13, 2010. staffers—NFTN editor John Marshall, Membership Coordinator and newsletter publisher Cheri Anderson of Design Ink, and Cold Climate Conference Coordinator Tom Martell, MGGA President Nicole Walsh. These folks work diligently on our behalf In this Issue: •— SAVE THE DATES —• • Annual Meeting/Winter Symposium ............................................................ 2 • 6th Annual Cold Climate Conference Details ............................................. 2 Annual Meeting/Winter Symposium • CCC Agenda .................................................................................................. 3 • From the Vineyard ......................................................................................... 4 January 23, 2010 • Dickerman’s Woodland Hill Winery Hosted Picnic .................................... 6 • Record Attendance at MN State Fair ........................................................... 6 See page 2 • What’s Up in Iowa .......................................................................................... 7 • The True Potential of Hardy Hybrids ........................................................... 8 • — • • Vintage Wisconsin - Wine is booming . ............................................... 10 th • Somerset: The Table Grape ....................................................................... 13 6 Annual Cold Climate • 2010 MGGA Board Nominations ................................................................ 13 Grape & Wine Conference • VESTA Comes to Minnesota....................................................................... 14 • Stylish Prairie Berry Wines ........................................................................ 15 February 11-13, 2010 • Wine Production Guide for Eastern North America ................................. 15 • Dilemma of the Red Wine ........................................................................... 16 See page 2 • My Eyes Are Bigger Than My Stomach ..................................................... 18 • MGGA BOD Meeting Minutes ..................................................................... 19 2 Winter 2009 ANNUAL MEETING/WINTER THE MINNESOTA GRAPE GROWERS SYMPOSIUM • JAN. 23, 2010 ASSOCIATION PRESENTS: THE 6TH ANNUAL COLD Saturday, January 23, 2010 • 8:30 a.m. Minnesota Landscape Arboretum CLIMATE GRAPE & WINE Synder Building Auditorium CONFERENCE 3675 Arboretum Dr., Chaska, MN 55318 Northern Viticulture ~ Pursuing Excellence www.arboretum.umn.edu FEBRUARY 11-13, 2010 The morning agenda is MGGA business and elections, SHERATON BLOOMINGTON HOTEL, followed by a hot lunch with MN wine. The afternoon BLOOMINGTON, MINNESOTA Winter Symposium will consist of the annual University research report by Peter Hemstad and Nick Smith, The Minnesota Grape Growers Association presents as well as a panel discussion on the important “Northern Viticulture – Pursuing Excellence” as the questions regarding transition from backyard grower to theme for this 6th Annual premier grape and wine commercial enterprise - what should be known before conference. The cold climate grape growing and making that leap? Please submit questions you’d like winemaking industry continues to expand and with it the to have discussed to Cyndi Ross. The day ends with need for knowledge in producing quality products from a wine and cheese social until 5 p.m. The cost is $30 cold climate grapes. From keynotes, to round tables for the day, and you can also renew your membership and hands-on experiences, making a commitment and register for the Cold Climate Conference, all at the to quality is woven throughout the 2010 conference same time. agenda. Introductory sessions will be offered on RSVP is required by Jan. 7, 2010 to Cyndi Ross at Thursday evening with a balanced variety of course [email protected] or 651-647-9403 , as we offerings on Friday and Saturday. For those looking to must plan accordingly for food and the facility. expand their knowledge of cold climate grape and wine production, this is a must attend conference. Northern Attendees will welcome the expanded trade show, enjoy the ever popular Midwest Wine Stroll, and celebrate Vineyards MGGA ‘Gold’ at the closing conference banquet. The Winemakers Roundtable will focus on the recently STILLWATER introduced and international award winning Marquette • MINNESOTA • grape. Your investment in this conference will help you gain Since 1977, we have specialized in the production of wines technical and practical information through formal S from locally-grown grapes. Current offerings include St. Croix, St. Pepin, La Crosse, Laura’s Laughter, presentations, informal networking and idea sharing. Edelweiss, Frontenac, Foch, La Crescent, Pinot noir, Plan now to attend this key industry event. Pinot gris, Prairie Star, and Gewurztraminer. Registration is now open! For more information and to register visit www.mngrapes.org For Harvest 2009, we offer grapes, pressed juice, and bulk wine to wineries in the Upper Midwest. Contact Nicole Walsh, Conference Coordinator, with questions at For quantities and pricing, contact: Robin at 651-430-1032 during early August, [email protected] or email to [email protected] See page 3 for the latest sample Agenda. SUBJECT TO CHANGE: FOR THE MOST CURRENT VERSION, PLEASE VISIT www.mngrapes.org Volume 35, Number 4 The Minnesota Grape Growers Association Presents: 3 2010 Cold Climate Grape & Wine Conference – February 11-13, 2010 Northern Viticulture – Pursuing Excellence Sheraton Bloomington Hotel – Minneapolis South | 7800 Normandale Boulevard | Minnneapolis, MN 55439 For more information or to register visit: mngrapes.org. Questions? Contact Nicole Walsh, Conference Coordinator at [email protected] THURSDAY Alcoholic Fermentation and MLF: An Introduction Pruning & Trimming Grapevines 6:00 – 6:50 PM Anna Katharine Mansfield Tim Rehbein Basics of Wine Sensory Trellising Basics 7:00 – 7:50 PM Paul Gospodarczyk John Marshall Wine Analysis Equipment Intro to Sprayers & Spraying 8:00 – 8:50 PM Nick Smith Mike White FRIDAY 7:00 – 8:30 AM Breakfast 8:30 – 8:40 AM Welcome - Tom Martell, MGGA President Making a Commitment to Quality 8:40 – 9:30 AM Steven Westby, Witness Tree Vineyards, Oregon Trade 9:30 - 10:00 AM Refreshments Show Vine Nutrition Delaying Bud Break 10:00 – 10:50 AM The Law of Wine: Legal Challenges from Seth McFarland Growing to Making & Selling Carl Rosen Christopher Hermann Vineyard Floor Spray Drift 11:00 – 11:50 AM Management Chair, Wine Law Group - Stoel Rives LLP Mike White Tim Martinson 12:00 – 2:00 PM Lunch & Trade Show Grapevine Cold Hardiness 2:00 – 2:50 PM Post Fermentation Considerations: Peter Hemstad Fining Agents & Wine Stability 2:45 – 3:00 PM Refreshments Filtration & Bottling Trade Wine Adjustments 5 Key Steps to a Profitable Vineyard 3:00 – 3:50 PM Show Anna Katharine Mansfield Tim Martinson Michael Jones Preliminary Results of the 4:00 – 4:50 PM Pierre-Yves Bournerias Wine Trail Panel IA Multi-Site Variety Trial Dr. Paul Domoto 7:00 – 9:00 PM Midwest Wine Stroll SATURDAY 7:00 – 8:30 AM Breakfast Future of the Grape & Wine Industry – Richard Leahy