Wine. The word calls to mind vineyards descending stark Spanish hills, vats lining Tuscan villages, fashionable singles crowding California tasting rooms. But anyone who hikes or bikes back roads in the Upper Midwest sees grapevines twining over fence posts and twisting up trees. Smooth, delicious wines are made from those grapes, and from the wild berries and cultivated fruits grown in the region.
Wineries of Wisconsin and Minnesota is a user-friendly guide to fifty-five wineries, ranging from small family-farm operations to the largest, best-known wine producers. The book's centerpiece is a series of thirteen "wine trails" that paints a picture of each winery's setting and unique flavor and includes detailed information and maps for visiting the wineries. Author and wine expert Patricia Monaghan explores the colorful history of Wisconsin and Minnesota wines, including the geology and climate of the region; the history of Upper Midwest grape growing; the heritage of country wines; and the major wine regions in the area. Delightful sidebars feature tidbits of wine information, from recommended pairings of food and wine to unusual local wine lore.
Praise for Wineries of Wisconsin and Minnesota:
"The brave souls who plant new vineyards and start new wineries are making a valuable contribution to renewing the Minnesota and Wisconsin countryside—and so does Patricia Monaghan's beautifully written, carefully researched guide. This book will enrich the experience of anyone who makes it their companion in exploring the back roads of the Upper Midwest."—Jeremy Iggers, food journalist and award-winning author of Garden of Eating
"Wineries of Wisconsin and Minnesota invites you to savor a taste of the local landscape and celebrate the rural essence of these unique regional wines. As a practical guide it offers tips on how and where to enjoy northern wines; as a historical reference it explains the geological, botanical, and cultural challenges dedicated, local artisan producers faced when establishing their vineyards."—Susan Streich-Boldt, Slow Food Madison
"As a longtime supporter and promoter of our local farmers, I can say with great relief that it is about time someone got around to taking notice of the burgeoning wine industry of the Upper Midwest. Patricia Monaghan's book is an informative history, a grand overview, and an in-depth visitor's guide, all in one." —Lenny Russo, Chef/Proprietor, Heartland Contemporary Midwestern Restaurant & Wine Bar, St. Paul, Minnesota
