White Wine Draws on its Historic Wisconsin Past

What a time to live in Wisconsin and drink white wine. The varieties produce some great wine and are backed up by countless awards on the national and international stage. More on those in a moment. But that was not always the case.

The Badger state has a solid reputation as a top agricultural producer. That reputation attracted Agoston Haraszthy back in 1840. He likely planted grapes to make white wine. The Hungarian nobleman thought Wisconsin was the perfect place to grow grapes and make wine.

Unfortunately, those grapes were not compatible with Wisconsin’s climate. Mr. Haraszthy decided to move to a place more conducive to his grapes. You may have heard of it—someplace in California called Napa Valley.

Others, like Haraszthy’s successor, Peter Kehl, also planted vines (probably to make white wine) and achieved little success. Fortunately, perseverance prevailed, as did the development of cold-hardy grapes.

Cold-Hardy Grapes are a Difference Maker

The development of cold-hardy grape strains by the University of Minnesota (and Wisconsin horticulturalist Elmer Swenson) saved the wine industry in the northern climates of the United States. These grapes laugh in the face of alleged harsh winters. People who (think they) know about wine also laughed at cold-hardy grapes and turned up their collective noses. They believed these grapes could not possibly be as good or produce wine as delicious compared to grapes from vines of European heritage. They are not laughing anymore.

Elmer Swenson's Grape Contributions to Great White Wine

Several varieties make excellent white wine. Among the most prominent are the La Crescent, Brianna, and Edelweiss. Here is a little bit of information about each.

• Brianna – tends to offer a flavor profile of fruit flavors ranging from grapefruit to pineapple. Winemakers see the grape's versatility as it performs well as a dry or in varying degrees of sweetness. Some compare the grape to the Muscat grape.

• Edelweiss – a grape used primarily for semi-sweet to sweet wines. Early harvesting provides a flavor profile with hints of peach, pineapple, or a citrusy flavor.

• La Crescent – is very aromatic, and many consider these grapes ideal for semi-dry and semi-sweet wine. It holds onto some acidity but offers a flavor profile similar to the Edelweiss (peach, pineapple).

Go to almost any winery in Wisconsin, and you will see white wines made from several varieties of cold-hardy grapes, including Brianna, Edelweiss, and La Crescent. However, be prepared for an amazing wine-tasting experience that rivals some wines from Napa and Europe. In fact, now is a great time to head to your favorite winery and enjoy some award-winning white wine from Wisconsin.