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Frontenac Grape Information

Frontenac Blue-Black Wine Grape

Ripening Season	Ripens mid September - A new hardy red wine variety from Minnessota- very popular with winemakers, has a slight "cherry" overtone.

Usage Notes Wine	I have not made a lot of Frontenac wine since it is so new in our vineyard and our customers pick it all. What I have tasted so far has been excellent! Click here for Frontenac winemaking info .....

Fall Harvest Notes	Ripening Information for Week 7, October 16, 17, 18, 2009 - LAST WEEKEND TO PICK CONCORD GRAPES - LOTS LEFT - WE ARE CLOSING THIS SUNDAY ON Oct 18. Frontenac grapes have been picked out. Click here for a ripening summary and grape prices for the whole vineyard ......

Variety Notes More Info	Frontenac Origin: MN 89 x Landot 4511; U of M, 1996. More vines of Frontenac are growing in MN than of any other variety, due to overall viticultural performance and excellent wine quality. Frontenac is a very cold-hardy vine and has borne a full crop after temperatures as low as -30° F. The small black berries are produced on medium to large clusters that are usually slightly loose. As a result, berry splitting and bunch rot have been rare, even in wet years. Frontenac has been a consistently heavy producer and sometimes requires cluster thinning. Frontenac is vigorous and usually becomes established quickly. Frontenac ripens in late midseason, and it is important to let the fruit hang long enough to fully mature, to reduce the acidity to workable levels. This is less of a problem when Frontenac is grown further south, under warmer conditions. Fortunately, the pH does not often rise to dangerous levels. Frontenac is a good sugar producer with 24-25 Brix not uncommon. Frontenac wine typically has a pleasant cherry aroma with berry and plum evident in many cases. The herbaceousness of its wild riparia background is almost entirely absent. The color is usually a garnet red, but can become excessively dark with long periods of skin time. Malolactic fermentation is essential to reduce the wine’s high acidity. Tannin levels are usually relatively low. Frontenac is very disease-resistant, with good resistance to powdery mildew and near-immunity to downy.

Where are the Frontenac vines located in the vineyard?	Rows 73 to 77 Each row has about 50 vines. Frontenac in one of the more recent plantings in our vineyard and it is becoming established quite well. Rows 73 to 75 were planted in 2004 and rows 76 & 77 were planted in 2007. The Frontenac rows are trained to a "Geneva Double Curtain" trellis, which means there are 2 top wires 4 feet apart (like utility poles) This gives the vines more room to grow.
Where are the Frontenac vines located in the vineyard?	Click here or on the image for a better view of their location.

Links & Resources	Jelly Making Grape recipes from the Kitchen Step by Step Winemaking Home winemaking with Eastern Grapes Making Red Wine WineMaking Resources Winemaking Articles Winemaking Resources from our Links Pages A Year in the Vineyard Pictorial

Where can I Purchase Frontenac Wine & Vines?	Frontenac is often used in commercial red blends. "Simply Red" from St. Julien Winery in Michigan is a typical red blend of this style. Red blends can be easily purchased in Michigan from local wine shops and grocery stores or may be purchased on line from: St. Julien Winery Peterson & Sons - Natural Wines Due to regulations wine cannot be shipped into Michigan from other states. Stop by these wineries to purchase this style of wine. NY - Yellow Barn Winery NY - Bully Hill Vineyard NY - Swedish Hill NY - Hunt Country (Note - If any other winery carries this style of wine and wants to be included here, please let us know) We do not sell wine or vines. Please go to our resource page for a listing of nurseries.

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