Starley Talbott

This book brought to mind the tongue in cheek motto of what I believe is the upper midwest's oldest vineyard, Alexis Bailly Vineyards in Hastings, MN: "where the grapes can suffer."

But you have to admire the pioneering spirit of the 85 growers and vintners profiled in this excellent little guide book. A highly unlikely region, though rich in history, producing some very interesting and drinkable wines.

The pioneering spirit extends to the grapes used. Unusual and old world varietals such as Marechal Foch, and new world varietals developed to withstand the harsh climate, such as Frontenac (developed by scientists at the University of Minnesota).

The book contains a wealth of information not only on the profiled vintners, but also the viticulture and viniculture, along with welcome tangents into the regions history, geography, and geology. A useful travel guide for the region and its unlikely wineries.… (mais)

To be honest, I didn't know what to expect of this book. I sort of knew that there were wineries in the Plains but didn't really pay attention to any of them. Living in Oregon, one does tend to have a view of the winemaking world much like the famous New Yorker cartoon about a New Yorker's view of the world. I am happy to say that this book widened my view a fair bit.

This book is a guidebook and a good one. he introduction give a good brief introduction to the history of vineyards in Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. Twenty five wineries across the three states are described in detail and there is an appendix listing all the wineries as of January 2008. I don't know when I'll be in Nebraska again but I will definitely be taking this book along with me when I go.… (mais)

Along the Grapevine Trail is an interesting guide to small wineries in areas one would least expect. It succeeds as a guide with interesting insights in local history and character of the land. It does not convey much about the wines themselves. What I presume is the one varietal with the most potential, Frontenac, is apparently best described as foxy or biting. Since the varieties adapted to the cold climates are not well known, I would have preferred to learn a little more about them in comparison to the more common varietals that most consumers know. Nevertheless, for someone looking to explore a developing wine region looking for an unknown treasure, this guide is a must have addition. Names, addresses, and contact information, coupled with the essays about each winery, make planning a trip a breeze.… (mais)