South Dakota as a wine destination... why not?

WINE TALK
1

For the next time you’re driving along I-90, the New York Times has the inside scoop on where to get your tipple fix…

But seriously, I doubt any of the wines from S. Dakota would suit any Berskerker’s fancy, but this is how new wine drinkers are born. I’m all for wines of all styles to be produced in every corner of the country. I’ve had seriously good wine from Iowa, Maryland and surprisingly Colorado, so why not South Dakota, too? [smileyvault-ban.gif]

2

Harumph…“Colorado”??? Surely you jest, Kyle!!! [stirthepothal.gif]
A lot of these (particularly) midWest states have to deal w/ the lack of a (relatively) sophisticated indigenous wine market.
The local folks are looking for sweet wines. Sometimes, the sweeter the better. Like in Kansas or Missouri, it’s a hard
barrier to overcome. And the wine folks who do have a sophisticated palate, wouldn’t deign to drink, or even try, a local wine.
Colorado is very fortunate in that they don’t have to deal w/ this local mind set. NewMexico is not nearly as far
along with this issue as Colorado.
Tom

3

There are very likely to be completely undiscovered terroirs in our country that are waiting for the right growers and winemakers. Im not sure what the summer day/night temperatures are there, but if it gets cool enough in the evenings it could potentially have lots of potential? Also, maybe it gets too cold in the winter and might kill vines?

But as Tom mentions a winery there may be forced to focus on sweet toothed tourists to survive.

4

And don’t forget the Kentucky Wine Trail! I ran across this one a few months ago when some online travel mag listed this as a top ten destination. I figure it’s for folks who are so over Napa. lol

Every state’s got 'em. Some native grapes, some “imported.” All hope to bring in tourist dollars.

5

I’m all in favor of South Dakota wines, or any other state, as long as they are not served to me.
Please excuse the attitude that sounds snobbish, but I hate it when someone pours me something that “I will love
because I’m a wine drinker”, and it is funky, foxy, beyond rustic, and often sweet.
I don’t believe that the more desirable varieties of grapes are hardy to S. Dakota temperatures.

P Hickner

6

My wife got her undergrad at U of SD in Vermillion. I remember a sign for a winery out in the boondocks NW of town in the mid to late 90’s. Holy icicles Batman. It gets so unbelievably cold there. The frost line for construction was 48in? I better turn on the heat, just thinking about those days makes me shiver. [shock.gif]

7

“Desirable” is in the eye of the beholder. 40 years ago the French were saying they were all in favor of CA wines, as long as they weren’t served to them. $100 astringent wines are not desirable to many consumers. I’m not saying that you must like, or even have an interest in, SD wine, but to completely disregard the possibility that anything worth drinking might come from SD is sad and bordering on obtuse.

8

I’ve had wines from Colorado, New Mexico, and Michigan that I thought were good.
Some from Texas are drinkable if one is desperate. Some from France that I thought were deplorable.

I’ll keep an open mind, and when I hear that a wine is as good as the wines from California 40 years ago, I’ll be interested in trying them. What anybody else drinks is their own business.

P Hickner

9

I was in the Black Hills and went to a couple of tasting rooms to see the business model. They certainly have a captive audience with tourists seeing Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse memorial, Deadwood, and Sturgis. The places were crowded and folks seemed to be having a great time. Aside from the afore mentioned destinations there didn’t seem to be a whole lot else to do.

The wines I tried were absolutely awful. I tried to keep an open mind as i always do when visiting a new region. Potential? Who knows.

10

I used to live in Rapid City and visit my parents there quite often and can say that the local wines are wretched. Most are fruit based, and wildly sweet. Right before I left, I heard there were some people planting nebbiolo out to the East of town. Gave me a chuckle.

I can guarantee that the 2013 vintage from South Dakota will be really bad…they got a 30 inch snowstorm in late April and then around 45 inches the first week of October. Such a small growing window.

For people that live in town, the local wines are a source of pride. They sell well at restaurants, are featured at the one or two wine shops in town, and are always present at dinner parties. I remember bringing a late '90s Edmunds St. John syrah to a party a couple years ago and had trouble convincing people to try it…everyone was focused on the SoDak wines.

[scratch.gif]

11

That’s impressive. Not that SD will ever be a major (or even minor) wine region, this is a good thing as far as the wine industry goes. Some of those consumers that start drinking sweet local wines (often fruit wines) will trade up to the dry vinifera-based wines we all know and love.

12

Berry I am not diurnals are the only issues. That is one. Humidity is a big issue for the midwest. Not positive but grape vines are dormant in the winter and i know they grow in Ontario and the Finger Lakes.

13

Ten years ago I would have said that Colorado wine sucks. Today, while some still fit that description, I actually think there are some half way decent wines being made in the state. Some delicious Cab Francs and Petit Verdots.
If Colorado can do it, SD might be able to as well.

14

They are, but severe winter cold can kill dormant vines. Winter kill is perhaps the biggest problem in CO vineyards. Generally, Vitis vinifera cultivars are susceptible to dying at temperatures below 10 F. Below 0 F and the vine is gone (at least to the roots, that’s why CO vines being own-rooted is important…). Hybrid varieties found in South Dakota, Minnesota and the like are hardy to -25 and lower. The vineyards in Ontario and Finger Lakes have the moderating influence of the large bodies of water that retain heat in the cold winter months.

15

I was in a conversation with a South Dakota winery looking to buy Anderson Valley Pinot fruit to be shipped via refrigerator truck. We got pretty close: I sent samples from '12 and we started talking price until another buyer stepped in.

16

The South Dakota Winegrowers Association website lists 14 wineries. A quick look at individual winery websites reveals some fruit wines, and lots of grape varieties I’d never heard of like St Croix, Frontenac, Prairie Star, Sabrevois, Landot noir, and Marquette.

17

Those are all French-American hybrids that are very cold hardy. In fact, I have Frontenac planted in my backyard.