Frontenac Grape
Frontenac Grape
A Vigorous, Ultra-Hardy Red Wine Grape Bred for the North
Frontenac Grape (Vitis 'Frontenac') is the grape that put cold-climate winemaking on the map — a University of Minnesota release hardy to roughly -30°F, with vigorous vines that ripen heavy clusters of small, deep-blue berries for bold red and rosé wines. It's self-fertile, disease-resistant, and productive, needing only full sun and a sturdy trellis. Whether you're starting a backyard vineyard in Edina, covering an arbor in Maple Grove, or growing your own wine grapes in Woodbury — Frontenac thrives in zone 4b–5a (and colder) gardens.
Frontenac Grape Plant Details
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Vitis 'Frontenac' (U of MN) |
| Plant Type | Deciduous fruiting vine (wine grape) |
| Mature Length | 15–20+ feet on a trellis; train to your system |
| Sun | Full sun (8+ hours) for ripening and sugar |
| Water | Moderate while establishing; fairly drought-tolerant once rooted |
| USDA Zones | 3–8 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a); hardy to about -30°F |
| Soil | Well-draining; tolerates a range of soils. Avoid wet, low spots; good air drainage reduces disease. |
| Pollination | Self-fertile — a single vine will fruit |
| Use | Red and rosé wine; high sugar with bright acidity |
| Harvest | Mid- to late September in the Twin Cities |
| Winter Hardiness | Exceptional — among the hardiest wine grapes, to roughly -30°F |
Frontenac Grape Uses in Minnesota Landscapes
Backyard vineyard
Frontenac is the backbone of many Minnesota home and commercial vineyards. Train it on a two-wire trellis in full sun in a Plymouth yard for reliable crops.
Arbors and screens
Its vigor makes it excellent for covering an arbor or pergola, giving summer shade plus a fall grape harvest in Eden Prairie.
Wine and juice
Known for deep color and bright cherry notes, Frontenac makes robust reds, rosés, and port-style wines, plus juice and jelly.
Best Time to Plant Frontenac Grape in Minnesota
Plant in spring (late April–May) after hard frost so the vine has a full season to establish. Fall planting is not recommended for grapes here. Never plant into frozen ground.
How to Plant Frontenac Grape
- Choose the sunniest, best-drained spot you have — a south or west slope is ideal for ripening and air drainage.
- Install the trellis before or at planting; grapes need sturdy support from year one.
- Dig a hole 2–3× the root width; backfill with native soil and some compost. Don't over-fertilize.
- Space vines 6–8 feet apart along the trellis.
- Water in well and mulch lightly, keeping mulch off the trunk.
- The first two years, train a single strong trunk and remove fruit so the vine builds structure.
Watering Frontenac Grape in Minnesota
First Year Watering Schedule
- Weeks 1–2: Every 2–3 days, deep and slow
- Month 1–2: Every 4–5 days
- Month 3–6: Weekly; deep but infrequent watering encourages deep roots
- Stop watering 2–3 weeks before ground freeze (typically late October in the Twin Cities).
After Year One
Established vines are fairly drought-tolerant; water only during extended dry spells. Avoid keeping the root zone constantly wet, which invites disease.
When and how do I prune grapes?
Prune in late winter while fully dormant, removing about 80–90% of the previous year's growth. Grapes fruit on new shoots from one-year-old wood, so annual hard pruning is essential for good crops.
Do I need two vines?
No — Frontenac is self-fertile and fruits on its own.
Will it survive a Minnesota winter?
Yes — it's one of the hardiest wine grapes, surviving to about -30°F without burial. Good site air drainage matters more than winter protection here.
You May Also Like
- Frontenac Gris Grape — the white-wine mutation with peach and apricot notes
- Marquette Grape — a complex, hardy red from the same breeding program
- St. Croix Grape — a hardy red for wine and fresh eating
How Many Frontenac Grapes Do I Need?
Space vines 6–8 ft apart along a sturdy two-wire trellis. One self-fertile vine fruits on its own; a short row builds a real backyard vineyard.
| Trellis Length | Vines Needed (~7 ft spacing) |
|---|---|
| 14 ft | 3 |
| 21 ft | 4 |
| 28 ft | 5 |
| 35 ft | 6 |
Frontenac Grape Season-by-Season in Minnesota
- Spring: Buds break on one-year-old wood after late-winter pruning; new fruiting shoots extend fast.
- Summer: Vigorous growth blankets the trellis; clusters of small blue berries size up in full sun.
- Fall: Heavy deep-blue clusters ripen mid- to late September for bold reds and rosés; foliage colors before drop.
- Winter: Fully dormant; one of the hardiest wine grapes (to about -30°F), it needs no burial here.
At a Glance
✔ Edible ✔ Drought-Tolerant
Plant It With
- Frontenac Gris Grape — the white-wine mutation with peach and apricot notes.
- Marquette Grape — a complex hardy red from the same U of MN program.
- St. Croix Grape — a hardy red for wine and the table.
- La Crescent Grape — an aromatic white to round out a home vineyard.
Is Frontenac Grape Right for Your Yard?
Frontenac wants the sunniest, best-drained spot you have — ideally a south or west slope with good air movement — plus a strong trellis and annual hard pruning, and it pays you back with reliable cold-climate wine grapes. It's not a fit for a low, wet, frost-pocket site or a shady yard, where it won't ripen and disease pressure climbs.
Where we deliver
We deliver Frontenac Grape and the rest of our nursery stock across the Twin Cities seven-county metro — Hennepin, Ramsey, Dakota, Anoka, Washington, Scott and Carver counties — from our yard in Waconia, Minnesota.
That includes Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Edina, Bloomington, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, Woodbury and the surrounding suburbs — see the full delivery area. Delivery is free on orders over $200 and $35 below that. Enter your ZIP code at checkout to confirm your address is covered, or read the shipping and delivery details.
Everything we sell is selected to survive USDA zone 4b–5a, which is what the Twin Cities metro sits in.