The Winery North Branch of Vermont

Discovering the wine region of Vermont

Vermont is a small state of 25,000 square kilometers located in the far northeastern United States. Thanks to the development of cold-hardy Grape varieties at the University of Minnesota, Vermont's wine industry has flourished over the past 20 years, complementing the state's production of craft beer, cider and maple syrup. However, the state's best-known alcoholic products are generally spirits. Vermont Lies between latitudes 43°N and 45°N, about the same distance from the equator as the famous wine regions of Bordeaux and the Willamette Valley.

However, other climatic factors mean that Vermont's growing season is Short and wet, and winters are often too cold for traditional grape growing. While some varieties of Vitis vinifera can survive Vermont's Harsh winters (including Riesling, which likes cooler climates), most grapes are hybrids, including Frontenac, La Crescent and Seyval Blanc. Although there are small wineries scattered throughout the state, most of Vermont's best producers are located near the great Lake Champlain in the northwest corner of the state. Here, producers can take advantage of the lake's temperature moderating effect, which warms the vineyards in winter and cools them in summer.