MN State Fair 2025

Karin Rockstad, Spanish translator, WSET Educator, DipWSET Candidate, SWS, FWS, IWS, Certified Rioja Educator, Certified Advanced Cava Educator, Certified Sherry Wine Specialist, Albariño Ambassador, Sommelier 1

@garbanzo.grrl

The slogan "The Great Minnesota Get-Together" was apt again this year. Yesterday, August 31, Nikki and I were among the 194,501 people who attended. The Minnesota and Texas State Fairs vie for the top spot every year, with the North Star State pulling ahead with the largest average daily attendance. Texas wins for overall attendance, but that fair runs for double the amount of time. But kudos and shout-outs go to our fair, which is often ranked the best. I'm raising food-on-a-stick to that!

Vine Lab was asked again this year to speak at the MN Wine Country Building. This place is chock-full of Minnesota wines and food to go with them. We did a Family Feud-style game show with volunteer drinkers/diners who happened to be enjoying their tipple when we showed up.

Some of the questions included:

*How many wineries are in Minnesota? (>75)

*What Minnesota grape is a grandchild of Pinot Noir? (Marquette)

*What white grape is VERY cold hearty? (St. Pepin—survives -30F)

*What are the oldest/newest wineries in Minnesota (Alexis Bailley/Zumbro Falls)

*Which winery won the Governor's Cup at this year's International Cold Climate Wine Competition? (Cannon River Winery with "Shimmer," a sparkling rosé)

Our contestants Arlen, Maria, Abby, and Neil were good sports and we stumped them on some of the questions, of course! 😉 The crowd got to taste the Shimmer sparkling rosé and the Frontenac Gris from Rustic Roots.

Photo credit: Maria Madsen

What about a wine slushy? First believed to have appeared at the NY State Fair in 1984. It's the perfect cold drink for a summer day at the fair!

There's a lot to learn about Minnesota (and cold climate) wines, so get out there and support your local winery!