Why is it called American Wine “Project?”
Making wine in the Midwest, of atypical grape varieties is a capital “P” Project. We are taking an unconventional path to create something we believe in - natural wine from hybrid grapes passed down through generations of farmers and regional winemakers.
What is low intervention wine?
“Low Intervention” means that all the wine we produce uses the least amount of technological and chemical manipulation from the vineyard to the cellar. We take care to hand harvest and sort our grapes, eschew commercial yeasts, and refrain from ingredient additions, fining or filtration.
You mention the Driftless Region… what is that?
The Driftless is a unique geographical region in the upper Midwest near the intersection of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, & Illinois where the glaciers didn’t drift. This means it has completely unique topographical, geological, and ecological features. Our weather, soil, and flora is specific to this place, and is all a part of our terroir.
Most wine in America is made from one species of grapevine - Vitis vinifera. However there are numerous grape species that grow across North American, and in colder climates like ours. In the 1940s, an independent farmer named Elmer Swenson began crossbreeding varieties of local grapes he found to produce his preferred dominant features. He created new hybrid varieties of grapes that can withstand cold weather and produce incredible wines. We are grateful for his research and generosity, sharing strains with anyone who asked, for the future of winemaking.