Image of red grape clusters with thumprint grape breeding logo and the words "Grape breeding and enology"

Welcome to the Grape Breeding and Enology project website

Located at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, we conduct research in the Department of Horticultural Science and at the Horticultural Research Center. Our focus is on grapevine cultivar development which includes: wine grapes, table grape varieties, and ornamentals that survive and thrive in cold-climate conditions. We also work on understanding the mechanisms of disease and pest resistance so that we can incorporate these traits as a way to improve sustainability for Minnesota growers. In addition to breeding grapes, we develop and teach enology best practices for cold-hardy grapes.

Ask for Clarion!

By Kate Fessler, Drew Horton, John Thull, and Matt Clark

We have developed a short guide for our most recent UMN release, 'Clarion'! This high quality white wine cultivar is hardy to USDA Zone 5. Click on the preview below to open the PDF, or at the following link: Link to Clarion fact sheet.

Image of the first page of the Clarion fact sheet

News

No Fall Field Day in 2020

Due to COVID-19, the annual Fall Field Day has been cancelled. This event has been hosted for decades at the Horticultural Research Center. We hope that we can continue to offer this event again in September 2021.

If you are interested signing-up for UMN Grape Grower emails, follow this link


New harvest tools for growers and pickers

The extension team has developed some easy to understand guidance to assit growers and pickers in what grapes to retain for wine making. 

http://enology.umn.edu/grapes-how/what-do-bad-grape-clusters