Grape

Itasca

Released in 2017 by the University of Minnesota, Itasca is a white wine grape combining substantial winter hardiness with lower acidity than some earlier cold-climate varieties. That combination broadens the options for dry white wine in northern vineyards.

A different acid balance

In its early winemaking report, the university compares Itasca with its parent Frontenac gris and emphasizes the lower total acidity of the new grape.11. Matthew Clark and Andrew Horton, “Itasca Wine Making: New report,” University of Minnesota, 11 September 2019. The comparison concerns a breeding objective and observed fruit chemistry; individual sites and vintages still produce different results.

Lower acidity can make a dry wine easier to balance without leaving as much residual sugar. Itasca can also accumulate substantial sugar, so the grower must consider the potential alcohol as well as the acid when choosing a harvest date. Pear and melon-like fruit are among the breeder's reference points.

Northern vineyard practice

The university's current profile describes strong winter survival and useful resistance to both mildews and leaf phylloxera. Black rot and anthracnose can nevertheless cause trouble in warm, humid conditions. Its upright but vigorous growth calls for a training system and canopy work suited to the site.

Minnesota remains an important centre of production. The university's regional grower directory includes vineyards across the state, while its research winery has tested cellar treatments since the grape's release. The emerging range of wines reflects continued practical work with a relatively recent variety.

Sources

• University of Minnesota, “Itasca grape cultivar”, current cultivation profile and regional grower directory, accessed 22 September 2026.
• Matthew Clark and Andrew Horton, “Itasca Wine Making: New report”, University of Minnesota, 11 September 2019.