Like many of the grape varieties that we grow in Vermont, Farnsworth was developed by researchers at the University of Minnesota. These plant breeders cross cultivars from Europe with those native to North America, combining the high quality winemaking characteristics of the former with the cold hardiness and disease resistance of the latter.
A couple decades ago, the University sent cuttings of an experimental variety to Lincoln Peak to see how it would grow in Vermont. Chris was a big fan and decided to propagate the vines himself, expanding the planting to multiple acres over the next few years. In the meantime, the researchers gave up on the variety and never released it to the public. Lincoln Peak was left with the only commercial planting in the world and, naturally, the naming rights.
The Granstroms named the variety after the Farnsworth family who farmed the land that became Lincoln Peak Vineyard from 1816 to 1919. Never would they have imagined that unique wine grapes would one day grow on their hill.
Farnsworth produces a dark, robust wine with smooth tannins and pronounced spice. From the cooler 2022 vintage, look for aromas and flavors of dried fig, green olive, fresh raspberry, hazelnuts, and white peppercorn. Get your nose in a glass of this one-of-a-kind beauty at our Tasting Room or online.
Marquette 2021 - Our Flagship Red
Our flagship red, Marquette may be the most important and widely planted cold-climate grape variety. Here at Lincoln Peak, we have two blocks of Marquette, one in the loamy, loose soils of the Upper Vineyard and one in the rich, heavy soils of the Lower Vineyard. The vines show great disease resistance, healthy crop levels, and the ability to make dense, opulent wines with incredible fruit intensity. Our elevated site, with its consistent breezes typical of the Champlain Valley, allows us to hang fruit late into the growing season, soaking up every last bit of sun and creating a benchmark example of this special variety.
The 2021 vintage was a dry one with lots of sun and little rainfall for much of the growing season. Periodic showers returned in late summer, giving the vines a much needed drink, but the fruit remained pristine with great ripeness and flavor density. In the glass, look for aromas and flavors of dark cherry, plum compote, brown spice, and violets.
Check out more information about Marquette 2021 and our wines here.