Aug 19, 2008 10:58 pm US/Central
Wonderland Of Wineries In Your Own Backyard
(WCCO)
Hidden in the Land of 10,000 Lakes are fields worthy of world-class distinction. A vacation you might not expect in your own backyard.
"This is Napa Valley without the airfare," said Minnesota winemaker John Maloney.
Just 38 miles south in Hastings, is where Minnesota's wine story begins -– at the Alexis Bailly Vineyard.
"The small amount of wine history in Minnesota started here. We kind of follow in David Bailly's footsteps. He was very passionate about trying to grow grapes in Minnesota and make great wine and put Minnesota on the wine map," said Joan Wynia.
Alexis Bailly opened in 1978, back when all the vines had to be buried to withstand cold Minnesota winters. But as the popularity of the vineyard itself grew, so did that of cold weather wine-making.
In response, the University of Minnesota developed grape vines that could survive our wicked weather. The result is more wineries making wine from 100 percent Minnesota grapes, like the Frontenac.
"It's great to live in an area and have wine from that area. There's a little part of that location in the wine," said Wynia.
For $10, you can sip at your leisure at the tasting counter, or while trying your hand at some bocce ball on the grounds.
Just a short 14 miles away is the Cannon River Winery in Cannon Falls. Like Alexis Bailly, this place prides itself on its sophisticated selection.
"I think that's a common misconception, that all Minnesota wines are sweet wines," said Maureen Maloney. She and her husband John started the winery five years ago when they brought on Vincent Negret as their winemaker.
"My grandfather began one of the first wineries in Colombia in 1937," said Negret. That's when political turmoil forced him to seek work in the United States.
"For an immigrant to obtain work permit, the employer has to prove that there are no more trained, available American workers in his area," he said.
That meant California, with its abundance of skilled wine workers, was not an option. Minnesota was.
"I found out that this is a very interesting challenge to grow these different grapes that nobody else has in the world," said Negret.
While Negret perfects the taste, owner John Maloney has worked wonders with the vineyard. It's a picturesque piece of land a few miles out of town in the Sogn Valley.
"Just about every day, I jump out of bed and I am ready to go. It's good work. No question about it," Maloney said.
Maloney's "office" is marked by a handful of chairs perched underneath a tall old tree, and that's part of what he loves. That's not to say the work isn't hard.
Maloney had to wait four years before he could even begin producing wine with his grapes. But now, people enjoy Cannon River's award-winning wines and breathtaking views from the framework of a reconstructed barn that serves a picnic shelter.
Ironically, the barn used to be owned by one of the primary proponents of prohibition, a fact Maloney jokingly points out.
"It's not just selling wine, it's selling the whole experience of the vineyard and the winemaking," he added.
The same sentiment is shared by John Falconer, proprietor of wine at Falconer Vineyards in Red Wing, just 20 miles away.
"We're at six acres now. About 3600 vines," said Falconer, who opened his vineyard in 2004.
Now, Falconer Vineyards boasts a unique quality all its own. It's one of the only places aspiring winemakers can get their start growing Minnesota grapes.
"We propagate the patented varieties of grapes from the University of Minnesota ... and then provide these to other growers," said Falconer.
"We started these from tissue cultures that we had produced in the laboratory," he said pointing out some vines.
But not all wine is grown from grapes. To experience a wide array of fruit and vegetable wines, you'll want to stop in Lanesboro, some 90 miles south in Lanesboro.
There, the Scenic Valley Winery crafts wines from cranberries, elderberries, apples, rhubarb. You name it and they might have tried it. All for less than $10 a bottle, it's easy for most people to find something to tempt their taste buds at the dinner table.
It's amazing to think all this can be found within 162 miles of the Twin Cities. It's a one-tank wonderland in our own backyard.
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