During our visit to Wisconsin wineries in June, we had incredible weather. Since this was our first visit to Wisconsin we were unsure as to what clothes to wear – would it be cold, cool or warm? We arrived on the first day with sweaters and a coat. It was not exactly the best choice; the weather was warm and comfortable with no humidity to speak of. As our visit progressed, the days continued both sunny and warm. We mentioned what a nice place to live to several winemakers and their immediate response was to talk about the cold winters in Wisconsin. At a winery near Madison, we learned that they had experienced five straight days of -30 degrees last winter. Another one said that people run from one warm building to another during the harsh winters.

So what kind of grapes can grow in Wisconsin? Depending on the area cool weather grapes and cold weather grapes can do well. For the most part vinifera grapes perform poorly and many winemakers prefer to source vinifera grapes from outside the state.

If you can tolerate and enjoy cold weather, Wisconsin has some beautiful farmland. You may want to consider a move to Wisconsin and plant a few grapevines in your yard.

Cheers! Kathy