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  • Delicious Apple Recipes to get you in the mood for fall/autumn. Choose from smoothies, salads, side dishes, main dishes, and desserts. | RotiNRice.com
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Home / Main Ingredient / Fruit / Minnesota’s Apple and Wine Country

Minnesota’s Apple and Wine Country

By: 👩‍🦳 Linda · Published: 🖨 September 10, 2012 · Updated: 💻October 3, 2017 · 🗨 16 Comments

Enjoy the autumn season strolling through Minnesota’s Apple and Wine Country with fresh, crisp apples, fruity wines, and spectacular fall colors.

Enjoy the autumn season strolling through Minnesota's Apple and Wine Country with fresh, crisp apples, fruity wines, and spectacular fall colors. | RotiNRice.com

It is apple season in Minnesota! Each year we look forward to weekend trips to apple orchards opened to visitors at this time. Some orchards not only offer apples but also wines from their vineyards. Northern wines are a growing industry in our neck of the woods and we have several award winning vineyards dotting our rural landscape.

It is interesting how traditional apple growers have combined their experience of cultivating apples and producing cider to the new cultivation of grapes for wines. The University of Minnesota spent many years developing winter hardy grapes that work well in the rich prairie soil and short growing season.

Enjoy the autumn season strolling through Minnesota's Apple and Wine Country with fresh, crisp apples, fruity wines, and spectacular fall colors. | RotiNRice.com

When European settlers arrived in Minnesota, there were no apple trees around. In fact there were hardly any trees, only an endless sea of prairie grass taller than humans. The early settlers planted all kinds of fruit trees but they could not survive the harsh winters. The College of Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resource Sciences of the University of Minnesota developed many apple varieties for our harsh weather over the last century. Today, we have popular Minnesota specialties like Honeycrisp and Zestar. These are crisp and juicy snacking apples.

Enjoy the autumn season strolling through Minnesota's Apple and Wine Country with fresh, crisp apples, fruity wines, and spectacular fall colors. | RotiNRice.com

Enjoy the autumn season strolling through Minnesota's Apple and Wine Country with fresh, crisp apples, fruity wines, and spectacular fall colors. | RotiNRice.com

Apple orchards are found in and around central and southeast Minnesota concentrated around the Minnesota and Mississippi river valleys, not far from where we live. Apple picking begins as early as end of August through October. Orchards open to the public attract visitors with all kinds of creative activities like tractor and hay rides, corn maze, petting zoos, food trucks, wine tasting, and the likes. Visiting an orchard is a fun way for families to enjoy and discover Minnesota’s Apple and Wine Country.

Enjoy the autumn season strolling through Minnesota's Apple and Wine Country with fresh, crisp apples, fruity wines, and spectacular fall colors. | RotiNRice.com

The two varieties ready for picking at this time are McIntosh and Haralson apples. These are cooking apples good in pies, cakes, and muffins. Cooking apples tend to look more round and squat. Shown in the picture below are McIntosh apples.

Enjoy the autumn season strolling through Minnesota's Apple and Wine Country with fresh, crisp apples, fruity wines, and spectacular fall colors. | RotiNRice.com

Since it is still pretty early in the season, the trees are heavy laden with fruits. Shown here are Haralson apples.

Enjoy the autumn season strolling through Minnesota's Apple and Wine Country with fresh, crisp apples, fruity wines, and spectacular fall colors. | RotiNRice.com

Just beyond the groves of apple trees are the grape vines. We were pleasantly surprised to see all those rows of grape vines now in their fifth year in this orchard.

Enjoy the autumn season strolling through Minnesota's Apple and Wine Country with fresh, crisp apples, fruity wines, and spectacular fall colors. | RotiNRice.com

The workers were out harvesting the La Crescent grapes used for white wines.

Enjoy the autumn season strolling through Minnesota's Apple and Wine Country with fresh, crisp apples, fruity wines, and spectacular fall colors. | RotiNRice.com

Here is a peek into the filtration room.

Enjoy the autumn season strolling through Minnesota's Apple and Wine Country with fresh, crisp apples, fruity wines, and spectacular fall colors. | RotiNRice.com

The four cold hardy wine grapes grown here are Frontenac, Frontenac Gris, La Crescent, and Marquette.

Frontenac wine has a deep garnet color with a distinctive cherry aroma.

Enjoy the autumn season strolling through Minnesota's Apple and Wine Country with fresh, crisp apples, fruity wines, and spectacular fall colors. | RotiNRice.com

Frontenac Gris wine has aromas of apricot and citrus.

Enjoy the autumn season strolling through Minnesota's Apple and Wine Country with fresh, crisp apples, fruity wines, and spectacular fall colors. | RotiNRice.com

La Crescent wine has a nose of apricot, peach, and citrus.

Enjoy the autumn season strolling through Minnesota's Apple and Wine Country with fresh, crisp apples, fruity wines, and spectacular fall colors. | RotiNRice.com

Marquette wine has an attractive ruby color with notes of cherry and black pepper.

Enjoy the autumn season strolling through Minnesota's Apple and Wine Country with fresh, crisp apples, fruity wines, and spectacular fall colors. | RotiNRice.com

We had a most enjoyable time at the orchard. The weather was perfect and there were not too many people around as it is still quite early in the season. We tarried a little after the wine tasting before heading back to the city for a late lunch.

Do check out some of my apple recipes by clicking on the respective picture to get to the post.


This Peanut Butter and Cream Cheese Dip is delicious with apples, crunchy vegetables, and pretzels.

Quick and easy Peanut Butter and Cream Cheese Dip with a sweet salty combination perfect with crunchy fruits, vegetables, and pretzels. Only minutes to prepare. | RotiNRice.com

Enjoy the autumn season strolling through Minnesota's Apple and Wine Country with fresh, crisp apples, fruity wines, and spectacular fall colors. | RotiNRice.com

Enjoy…..and have a wonderful day! 😎

Enjoy the autumn season strolling through Minnesota's Apple and Wine Country with fresh, crisp apples, fruity wines, and spectacular fall colors. | RotiNRice.com


Categories: 🗂 Fruit, Travel Tags: 📋 apples, grapes, North America

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Comments

  1. Baby Sumo says

    September 10, 2012 at 7:56 pm

    Thanks for the “tour”, Biren!

    Reply
    • Biren says

      September 12, 2012 at 2:17 pm

      You are welcomed! 🙂

      Reply
  2. denise @ singapore shiok says

    September 10, 2012 at 10:46 pm

    Thanks for the history and peek into Minnesota’s apple and wine country. I like both wine and cider, but find cider more refreshing in our warm and humid weather. I think I actually prefer eating cooking rather than snacking apples for their wonder crisp texture. Is that odd?! LOL

    Reply
    • Biren says

      September 12, 2012 at 2:22 pm

      Cider with cinnamon is sometimes served warm at the stores. It is a nice welcome at the entrance on crisp fall days. Ahhh…the scents of fall… so warm and inviting!

      I am sure there are many out there who may prefer eating cooking apples. 🙂

      Reply
  3. denise @ singapore shiok says

    September 11, 2012 at 2:43 am

    Oh, I forgot to add earlier – I like you new hair style. Not a drastic change, but a nice one 🙂

    Reply
    • Biren says

      September 12, 2012 at 2:24 pm

      Thanks Denise! I wanted a haircut and I wanted it now kind of day and so I had to go to a different hair dresser. Maybe I should visit her more often. 😉

      Reply
  4. Blackswan says

    September 11, 2012 at 9:53 am

    This is so fun! Wish I could join u there. Thks for the apple tour, dear!

    Reply
    • Biren says

      September 12, 2012 at 2:26 pm

      I look forward to apple picking each year. Love the weather at this time of the year.

      Reply
  5. Ramona says

    September 11, 2012 at 7:10 pm

    I would love to go on a trip like this and see all the apples and grapes in their glory. What an amazing experience. 🙂

    Reply
    • Biren says

      September 12, 2012 at 2:27 pm

      You should plan to go. I am sure your daughter will enjoy it too. 🙂

      Reply
  6. Kitchen Belleicious says

    September 11, 2012 at 8:53 pm

    oh i have always wanted to visit a vineyard and see wine being made first hand. This looks like a wonderful trip. Glad you got to get away!

    Reply
    • Biren says

      September 12, 2012 at 2:29 pm

      These small family own vineyards are fun to visit. Their wines are quite different and is a nice change from store bought varieties.

      Reply
  7. Haruna says

    September 12, 2012 at 9:52 am

    The apples look so yum!

    Reply
    • Biren says

      September 12, 2012 at 2:30 pm

      Thanks! 🙂

      Reply
  8. mjskit says

    September 12, 2012 at 5:11 pm

    Those apples trees are loaded!!! What fun to be able to get apples or any fruit right off the tree/vines. The grapes look so juicy and I can only imagine the wonderful wine they make. A cherry aroma – OOOOOHHHHHHH! Looks like you had a fun time and wonderful trip pretty lady!

    Reply
  9. kitchenriffs says

    September 12, 2012 at 5:20 pm

    What a great time that must have been! We’ve never done a wine tour – we so totally need to do it. Love the picture of you holding the grapes – what fun! And fun is what this post was – thank you.

    Reply

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My grace is sufficient for thee…
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Hi, I’m Linda! I make quick, easy meals, and spin on classics and old favorites with focus on Malaysian, Chinese, and American cuisines. Read more →

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