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Minnesota may not be known as wine country just yet. But as our climate trends warmer, northern wine growers are having some success.

It turns out 2017 was a good year for Minnesota wine grapes.

This week I spoke with Minnesota wine guru 

 from the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. John develops grape varieties and tends the grapes from start to finish as a researcher at the 

2017 brought plenty of severe weather to Minnesota. But John tells me via email the wine grapes rode the storms out pretty well.

Apple trees had already formed fruit by June 11th. John notes the hailstorm had a much bigger impact on the 2017 apple crop.

https://twitter.com/MPRweather/status/904860785960210432

Summer in the Twin Cities was temperate. Temperatures started warm but cooled over time. Overall the summer was close to average in the Twin Cities, running just 1.5 degrees warmer than average overall.

https://twitter.com/NWSTwinCities/status/904013123945947142

June temperatures averaged 2.5 degrees warmer than average at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. July was just 1.5 degrees warmer than average. Then a cooler weather pattern took hold in August. August temperatures were 2.5 degrees cooler than average at MSP Airport. It marked just the second month in two years with below average temperatures in the Twin Cities.

https://twitter.com/NWSTwinCities/status/903652285632450560

The temperate summer and late season coolness may have contributed to deeper reds and more flavorful grapes. John elaborates on how summer temperatures may have impacted grapes this year.

It will be interesting to see just how much this summer's favorable wine weather shows up on the taste buds in the 2017 wine vintage.

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Paul Huttner

Author

Minnesota wines could be especially good this year.

MPR News' chief meteorologist Paul Huttner with Minnesota wine gurunJohn Thull from the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. John develops grape varieties and tends the grapes from start to finish as a researcher at the Horticultural Research Center in Chanhassen.

A good year for Minnesota wine grapes

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