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Deardorff Vineyards Introductory Newsletter |
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9.1.08 DEARDORFF VINEYARDS EST. 2005 Deardorff Vineyards is located in the country of Carver and the township of Laketown between Victoria and Waconia. The vineyards are located at 44 degrees, 52 minutes latitude, and 93 degrees, 44 minutes longitude, at an altitude at 940-980 ft. The vineyards are located between three bodies of water; Lake Waconia (3,104 acres) to the west, Parley Lake (374 acres) to the north, and Lunsten Lake (200 acres) to the east. The vineyards are positioned to receive optimum sunlight and good cold air drainage to moderate Spring and Fall temperature extremes. The land was originally homesteaded in 1860 as a land grant from President James Buchanan to Alexander Johnson. The Peltz family farmed the land as a dairy operation from 1880-1960 when the Jesuits bought the property. Lin and Bonnie Deardorff purchased 80 acres in 1979 from the Jesuits and another 40 acres in 1994 from Richard Gray. The vineyard was started in April 2005. The existing west apple order was sub-divided to clear 1 acre of land for grape vines, leaving 2 acres in apples. This 1 acre vineyard is named the Lindley block after the Lindley family name. It contains 1/3rd acre each of Frontenac, LaCrescent, and Frontenac Gris grapevines. In April of 2007 the north apple orchard was sub-divided. We planted 2 acres of a new grape variety, Marquette. 3 acres of apple trees remain. The Gray block after long-time family friends Kay and Dick Gray. In 2008 we planted two additional acres in the south apple orchard after removing older Haralson and Red Baron trees. We planted Marquette, Frontenac, La Crescent, and St Pepin varieties. Marquette, Frontenac, Frontinac Gris, and La Crescent are high quality, cold-hearty varieties and disease resistant wine grape cultivars. They are of a diverse genetic base that includes Vitis Vinifera cultivars, quality French hybrids, and cold-hearty V. Riparia, Minnesota’s native grape. St Pepin is an Elmer Swenson Lambrusca variety that is also cold-hearty and disease resistant. Deardorff Vineyards sells these grapes exclusively to Parley Lake Winery. This block is named the Bonnie block. In total there are approximately 3,113 plants of 5 different varieties: 1631 Marquette, 555 Frontenac, 477 La Crescent, 234 St. Pepin, and 216 Frontenac Gris. These grapes will product different styles of red, white, and blush wines. Full production will begin in 2010 and will be approximately 45,000 pounds of grapes, producing 3,000 gallons of wine. This will yield 1,250 cases, 12 bottles per case. The “Charter 100” groups have been established to include people who like to drink wine, tend the grapevines, make wine, and write about wines. The charter 100 groups will get priority purchasing privileges. Parley Lake Winery will open in 2009.
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Contact info: Lin Deardorff - 8350 Parley Lake Rd. Waconia, MN 55387 deardorffvin@aol.com - p:952.442.1885 - f: 952.442.6491 |