Frontenac Gris Grape
Frontenac Gris Grape
A White-Wine Grape with Peach and Apricot Notes, Hardy to -30°F
Frontenac Gris Grape (Vitis 'Frontenac Gris') is a natural gray-berried mutation of Frontenac that shares its parent's incredible -30°F hardiness and vigor, but produces aromatic white and rosé wines with distinctive peach, apricot, and honey notes. It's self-fertile, productive, and disease-resistant, needing only full sun and a sturdy trellis. Whether you're starting a backyard vineyard in Edina, covering an arbor in Maple Grove, or making your own white wine in Woodbury — Frontenac Gris thrives in zone 4b–5a (and colder) gardens.
Frontenac Gris Grape Plant Details
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Vitis 'Frontenac Gris' (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 | White and rosé wine; peach, apricot, and honey notes |
| Harvest | Mid- to late September in the Twin Cities |
| Winter Hardiness | Exceptional — to roughly -30°F, like its parent Frontenac |
Frontenac Gris Grape Uses in Minnesota Landscapes
Backyard vineyard
A favorite for cold-climate white wines, Frontenac Gris trains well on a two-wire trellis in full sun in a Plymouth yard.
Arbors and screens
Vigorous enough to cover an arbor or pergola for summer shade plus a fall harvest in Eden Prairie.
White and rosé wine
Its gray-pink berries press to a richly aromatic juice prized for off-dry whites, rosés, and dessert wines.
Best Time to Plant Frontenac Gris 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 after mid-October.
How to Plant Frontenac Gris Grape
- Choose the sunniest, best-drained spot — 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 Gris 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 a constantly wet root zone, which invites disease.
How is it different from Frontenac?
It's a color mutation — same hardiness and vigor, but gray berries that make aromatic white and rosé wines instead of red.
When and how do I prune it?
Prune in late winter while dormant, removing about 80–90% of last year's growth. Grapes fruit on new shoots from one-year-old wood, so annual hard pruning is essential.
Will it survive a Minnesota winter?
Yes — to about -30°F, among the hardiest grapes. No burial needed; site it for good air drainage.
You May Also Like
- Frontenac Grape — the red-wine parent variety
- La Crescent Grape — an aromatic white with apricot notes
- Itasca Grape — a newer hardy white from the U of MN