Those are the words you hear come out of a lot of people’s mouths.
The ones that influenced you to not pick that MN bottle at the liquor store.
The words that made you not even think twice about why a Minnesota wine wasn’t on the restaurant wine list.
And the ones that made you think visiting a winery in Minnesota can’t possibly be worthwhile for a wine drinker.
A group of ladies cheers at Carlos Creek Winery's tasting room.
The scariest part?
And the scariest part is that most of the people saying these words have tried only a handful of MN wines, or none at all.
But worst of all? A lot of them are Minnesotans themselves.
While we’re on the subject, most of these people don’t think twice about the things Minnesota wine is doing.
The Bredeson Family stands in the vineyard.
What Minnesota wine does
What MN wine does for local economies. The families it supports. The communities it helps uphold.
And that’s exactly the problem. There’s a whole lot of talk and not a lot of second thought.
But one thing you’ll eventually come to realize is, MN wine is much more than it’s made out to be.
Minnesota wine overcomes all the odds.
Minnesota was never “meant” to be a place talked about in the wine world.
But Minnesota is a state full of determined (aka stubborn) people who get a little fired up when you tell them they can’t do something.
Head Winemaker Russ Funk stands by the 2026 vintage in the vineyard
The magic behind Minnesota wine
And there in lies the real magic. Wine is meant to tell a story. And Minnesota? We've got a heck of tale.
Many bottles you find on liquor stores shelves are designed to be created in mass quantities. Fast tracked. Each bottle an exact replica of the last.
Your local MN winery? Couldn’t be further from that.
Each bottle is a unique work of art that tells a story. A Minnesota story to be proud of -- one about the land & the people who come together to make something that seems impossible, possible.
And since we’re already here, we should also talk about the fact that Minnesota wine is standing up on the stage with the big guys.
Head Winemaker Russ Funk presents some of the Carlos Creek Winery wines with impressive ratings from Wine Enthusiast
Established in 1999, Carlos Creek Winery has been crafting award-winning wines for more than 26 years in the heart of the Alexandria Lakes Area. As Minnesota’s largest winery and a second-generation family-owned business, Carlos Creek is dedicated to sustainability, community, and creating authentic experiences that bring people together.
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