The newest grape from the University of Minnesota’s breeding program, Itasca has proven itself to be one of the most cold-hardy grapes out there—even surpassing Frontenac and Marquette in terms of cold tolerance.

Aromatics & Winemaking Potential

With aromas of apple, pear, and violet and naturally lower acidity, this variety is especially well suited for dry white wines and sparkling wines. That said, some very nice off-dry wines have also been produced from Itasca, showing its versatility in the winery.

Early Ripening & Excellent Production

Itasca is a very productive grape that ripens early, reaching brix levels in the mid-20s and a moderate acidity around 10 g/L. It’s self-pollinating and suitable for most of Montana, and if you’ve got the right site, it could even be worth trying in Zone 3.

Resilient in Harsh Winters

If you regularly see temps below -30°F in the winter, it’s been our experience—and the experience of many others planting Itasca (and Marquette, among others)—that the tops may die back the first few winters, but the vines will consistently come up from the base the following spring.

This is totally fine because these vines are from rooted cuttings, not grafts, so what grows back will still be 100% Itasca. While it might set the grape back a bit at first, after a couple of years the vine typically becomes strong enough to withstand deeper frosts without dying back.

These are large vines with extensive root systems—ready to grow strong and perform well in your cold-climate vineyard.