99% of the time, when I tell someone that I make wine in Wisconsin, they reply “there ARE wineries in Wisconsin?”
People just don’t seem to know that Wisconsin is a flourishing wine region, now with over 100 active wineries in the state. The lack of Wisconsin’s visibility in the wine market is unfortunate, because there are a handful of world class wines being produced here currently.
One major hurdle in getting consumers to enjoy Wisconsin wine is that we don’t grow Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet here — the varietals that most Americans know and love. Our climate is not suitable for these traditional “Vinifera” grapes because our Winters are far too cold, plus the humidity in the Summer can create additional mold and rot problems.
Instead, we grow “hybrid” grapes that can withstand the unique challenges of our climate. Some of the most popular wine grapes grown in Wisconsin are:
Edelweiss
LaCrescent
St. Pepin
Frontenac
Marechal Foch
Marquette
St. Croix
Never heard of any of these wine grapes before? I’m not surprised! In fact, as a certified sommelier, I can tell you that midwest grapes are almost never mentioned in wine training books and courses. Midwest wine, in general, is a young industry and it will take time for the public to become familiar with our wines.
Promoting Wisconsin Wine
As a winemaker in Wisconsin, it’s my job to help spread the word about our wines and to educate consumers about wines they don’t understand.
Do you normally drink Riesling? Then you would love wines made from Edelweiss grapes.
Do you enjoy California Chardonnay? Then you should definitely try a St. Pepin wine aged in oak.
I look at WI wine as a personal challenge — I’ll promote our state’s wines until I’m blue in the face, and until Wisconsin gets it’s due recognition.
I want Wisconsin residents, especially, to know that they don’t need to travel all the way to Napa to go wine tasting. Visiting a local winery is a great way to support our wine industry, but also to support a local business.
Remember to Ask for Wisconsin Wine!
It’s important to note, when you look for a local winery to visit, make sure that their wines are made from local WI grapes. There are LOTS of wineries in the state that don’t even make wine with Wisconsin fruit. Instead, they make their wines by shipping in grapes (or grape juice) purchased from California.
While there’s technically nothing wrong with using CA fruit, if we want Wisconsin to be recognized as a legitimate US wine area, then we need to use local grapes to make our wines. After all, you wouldn’t travel all the way to Napa to drink wine made in France.
As a rule of thumb: If you visit a local WI winery and see Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvingon, or Pinot Noir on the menu…the wine isn’t made from WI fruit, so ask for their Wisconsin wines instead.
Drink More Wisconsin Wine!
So, next time you have a spare weekend do yourself a favor and go visit a local winery to drink some Wisconsin wines! Many of the wines are also available in your local grocery stores & liquor stores, so you can always ask an employee for a recommendation!
Cheers!
- Brother John, Winemaker at Anton Vincent