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northern wines; as a historical reference it explains the geological,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
