Minnesota State Fair 2024!

It’s that time of year again! The great Minnesota get together, 2024 edition.

As always, I’ll be doing the final judging for the amateur wine competition. I’ll also be presenting live at the Minnesota Wine Country building on the first day of the Fair, at 3:30pm. It will be our “Magical Mutations” presentation that many of you have seen before but is always fun to watch again. Swing by!

We got a preview of the food and wine at Minnesota Wine Country, and here are our suggestions of what to seek out.

Forestedge Lady Slipper (enjoy with the Sriracha Cheese Balls with Fried Brie)

I love the wines of Forestedge, which are all fruit based. This particular one is white cranberry wine, rhubarb wine, and raspberry wine finished to 12.5% ABV. It’s fantastic! It’s a blast of fruit flavor, punchy acidity, not nearly as much sweetness as you may fear, and a PERFECT pairing with the sriracha cheese balls when they are dipped into the accompanying sauce. Seriously, one of the best pairings ever. (Thank you Angela for discovering it!)

Round Lake Vineyards and Winery Edelweiss

Another favorite Minnesota winery of ours, Round Lake is a must-stop if you on I-90 in the southwest corner of the state. Arrive hungry, for they serve one of the best steaks in the state. Their Edelweiss might be the best version of this grape I’ve ever had. It’s a historic variety developed decades ago by Elmer Swenson, and most wineries make it in too sweet of a style. This one finishes dry, and is simply outstanding. I’m going to get some to serve to my European friends when they come to Minnesota.

Saint Croix Vineyards Frontenac (enjoy with the slider trio)

Lastly, the SCV Frontenac was INCREDIBLE, and again maybe the best version of this variety I’ve experienced yet. I’m pretty tough to please when it comes to Frontenac, but more and more in the last two years I’m finding great examples. It’s really just a matter of time, for the grape has now been released for 25 years and the winemakers and growers are really starting to learn to bring out the best.

The slider trio (Buffalo Chicken, BBQ Pork, and Smoked Beef Brisket) is, at $13, THE BEST FOOD DEAL AT THE FAIR.

A little secret … don’t tell too many people.

The single most relaxing and enjoyable spot to sit and people watch is found on the side of Minnesota Wine Country. There you’ll find a handful of tables under the grape vines (be sure to look at all the different varieties planted there), where you can enjoy a good rest in the shade while running back in to fill up your cup.

See you at The Fair!