Varietal Character

Edelweiss
You are part of a band of Native and French-Americans that could easily be called the ‘Polar Bear Gang’. Born in Minnesota, you’ve been bred to be tough and hardy. Your parents were imprisoned in labs for so long that they go by their identification numbers rather than names. People of the northern states are glad that you now control the flow of wine. In the frigid northern winters, weak-limbed vines all too often fail to deliver.

Appellations producing the most Edelweiss wines:

Iowa (State Appellation)	Wisconsin (State Appellation)
Nebraska (State Appellation)	Pennsylvania (State Appellation)
Minnesota (State Appellation)	Missouri (State Appellation)
America (Country Appellation)	Ohio (State Appellation)
Illinois (State Appellation)	Arkansas (State Appellation)

Edelweiss

Created by Elmer Swenson, this white grape is derived from an Ontario x MN 78 cross. Edelwiess is disease resistant and very winter-hardy, reportedly to -30 F (approx. -34 C). Along with other Swensen varieties, it is an important varietal in the northern United States. The vine produces large, loose clusters , with pale gold berries. The grapes of the vine are often used to make sweet white wines or occasionally left on the vine long enough to produce icewines. Edelweiss is very disease resistant.