Minnesota Shines at the 2025 International Cold Climate Wine Competition

Minnesota Shines at the 2025 International Cold Climate Wine Competition

This past August, Minnesota once again became the center of attention in the world of cold-climate winemaking with the latest edition of the International Cold Climate Wine Competition (ICCWC).

Known as the most important contest of its kind, the ICCWC celebrates wines made in regions where winters are harsh and vines face real challenges. Organized by the Minnesota Grape and Wine Alliance and the University of Minnesota’s Grape Breeding and Enology Project, this year’s competition brought together 21 expert judges who tasted 354 wines from Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, and even Ontario, Canada.

Minnesota’s Big Winners

Minnesota wineries proudly stood out among the winners, taking home some of the top honors:

And that’s not all — Minnesota also claimed victories in several important categories:

These results show not only consistency but also the growing diversity and quality of Minnesota wines.

Standout Grape Varieties

  • Marquette → The star of cold-climate reds. Gold for Carlos Creek and Wooden Link, plus medals for Parley Lake, Jomas Hill, Rustic Roots, and Sovereign Estate.
  • Frontenac → A strong performer, with Crow River Winery’s Red Coyote 2023 named Best of Show Red.
  • La Crescent → The white that shined brightest. Carlos Creek took Best of Show White, while Crow River and Rolling Forks earned Double Gold.
  • Itasca → The newest grape with huge potential. Saint Croix Vineyards Itasca Reserve 2023 and 7 Vines Vineyard Itasca 2024 both won Double Gold.

Other Highlights

  • Dessert Wines → Sovereign Estate (Ignatius, Sonata) and Saint Croix Vineyards Port earned Double Gold.
  • Sparkling Wines → Beyond Cannon River, winners included 7 Vines, Rolling Forks, Mousse Sparkling Co., and Schram Vineyards.
  • Fruit Wines → Crow River Blackberry earned Double Gold, while Forestedge Winery swept categories with blueberry, black currant, rhubarb, and more.

Wineries of the Year

The “Wineries of the Year” title went to two Wisconsin producers — Parallel 44 Winery and Ziegler Winery — both with an impressive 26 medals each. Still, Minnesota took center stage by securing the Governor’s Cup and multiple Best of Show awards, reinforcing its role as a true leader in cold-climate winemaking.

Minnesota: A Pioneer in Cold-Climate Wines

Minnesota’s strength lies not just in its wines but in its innovation. The University of Minnesota has developed groundbreaking grape varieties like Frontenac, La Crescent, Itasca, and Marquette, which are now planted across the Midwest and beyond.

From sparkling wines to structured reds and refreshing rosés, these awards prove that Minnesota wines can be both world-class and uniquely expressive of their climate.

Beyond Minnesota

It’s worth noting that wineries from Wisconsin and Nebraska also earned important awards, showing how the cold-climate wine movement is expanding throughout the Midwest. But once again, Minnesota set the benchmark with wines recognized at the highest levels.

The ICCWC 2025 wasn’t just about medals. It was about celebrating the passion, innovation, and resilience of winemakers who craft beautiful wines in some of the world’s toughest growing conditions. And this year, Minnesota truly shined.

Want to See All the Winners?

I’ve prepared two PDF files so you can explore all the results in detail:

Photo credit: ICCWC/vinelabwine
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