MN Wineries Are A Growing Industry Despite Economy

 It's a growing industry thanks to the work at the University of Minnesota developing hardy grapes that can make it through those arctic winters.

Think about the great wine regions of the world -- Tuscany, France, Minnesota?

"When you look at the globe ... Southern Minnesota is at the same latitude of the great wine growing regions of France," said John Maloney, owner of Canon River Winery, "So it's the arctic winters that we need to get through."

John and Maureen Maloney own Cannon River Winery in Canon Falls. When they first opened five years ago, they were the 12th winery in the state. Now the number of wineries in the state has tripled.

It's a growing industry thanks to the work at the University of Minnesota developing hardy grapes that can make it through those arctic winters.

"The University of Minnesota, what they did for the apple industry," said John Maloney, "is really what they're going to be doing for the grape industry."

It is a short growing season here. Only about five to six months for the very small buds in the vineyard today, to mature into the beautiful bunches by summer, which are then ready for harvest.

"Yes, we are gradually getting there ... that we can demonstrate to the world that we can make it," said Canon River Winery winemaker Vincent Negret.

He came all the way from South America to work with the hardy Minnesota grapes. And Negret's parents are visiting from Bogota, Columbia. They came to taste Vincent's newest creation -- a wine named for his mother, Graciella.

"It's a very highly aromatic, noble, classy, white, semi-dry that will go well with many, many foods," Negret said describing the new wine.

Vincent believes the wine industry will survive difficult economic times.

"Probably what will happen is that people will like to forget some of the pain and come and have some fun and enjoy themselves and be happier by enjoying a glass of wine," Negret said happily.

And this new season brings new hope for the Maloneys -- hope that their new business is recession proof.

"We make up such a small percentage of wine sales in the state. That I think we're going to be OK," said John Maloney.

The Maloneys like to tell people that a visit to a local winery is like going to California without the expense of an airfare.

"People are so into things that are locally grown and locally produced," said Maureen Maloney, "and to come out here and see where things are grown and then to watch it convert into a product like wine is so much fun."

Canon River Winery is one of six Minnesota wineries located within the Saint Croix, Mississippi, and Cannon river valleys. Together they are on the Three Rivers Wine Trail.