Frontenac - MN 1047

Introduced in 1995, Frontenac is the first in a series of new wine grape varieties developed by the University of Minnesota for Upper Midwest conditions. A cross of V. riparia 89 with the French hybrid Landot 4511, Frontenac combines many of the best characteristics of each parent.

Frontenac is a very cold hardy vine and has borne a full crop after temperatures as low as -30 F. It is also a very disease resistant variety with good resistance to powdery mildew and near-immunity to downy. Frontenac's 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 a vigorous variety and usually becomes established very quickly. Typical spacing on fertile soils would be about 8' between vines. Best results to date have been obtained training Frontenac to an upper cordon system with canes. Frontenac produces only a moderate number of tendrils, which facilitates vine management.

In Minnesota, Frontenac ripens in late-midseason, about 10 days after Foch. It is important to let the fruit hang long enough to fully mature in order to reduce the acidity to workable levels. This becomes 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 Gris – 1187

Found as a sport of Frontenac. Similiar growth and disease resistance habits of Frontenac. This variety is under review for release from the University of Minnesota. Frontenac Gris has a characteristic peach aroma vs the cherry aroma of Frontenac 1047.