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La Crescent
Edelweiss  -  Frontenac Gris  -  La Crescent  -  Prairie Star  -  St. Pepin
La Crescent Clusters
La Crescent Clusters
La Crescent Clusters
La Crescent Clusters
Released in 2002, La Crescent (formerly , MN 1166) is a cross of St. Pepin and an Elmer Swenson selection from V. riparia x Muscat Hamburg. Hardy to -36 F, La Crescent requires a careful spray program to control black rot and downy mildew. Sugar can develop to 22-27 brix with moderately high acid. Wine can be excellent when made in a semi sweet or dessert style. Similar to a good Vignole or Riesling but with apricot and honey in the nose and flavor. Ripens mid to late season.
  • Primary Use: White Wine
  • Color: Golden Yellow/Green
  • Hardiness: 3b
  • Harvest Time: Mid to Late Season
  • Training System: High Cordon, G.D.C., V.S.P.
  • Spacing: see our Spacing Chart page here
Photos: la crescent clusters la crescent clusters la crescent clusters la crescent clusters
Rory's Recommendation - La Crescent has great wine making potential, and is capable of producing high yields in the vineyard despite its somewhat poor cluster set. Powdery mildew can be a problem if you neglect to apply fungicide. Of the U of M releases, La Crescent's more rampant and disorderly growth habit can increase the time needed to expose fruit and comb down shoots in the summer (high cordon system), and additionally increases time spent pruning in winter. On fertile sites La Crescent establishes quickly, sometimes producing bull canes (aka water shoots, which are extra vigorous shoots that form large lateral shoots and diameter's over a half inch), these are undesirable because they don't harden off well and typically die back to the ground. This can become a cycle of bull cane production followed by die-back. To prevent this never choose just one shoot when establishing a vine, always grow two or three- this helps to both strengthen the root system, and also to control vigor. The following year you can prune out unwanted growth and allow the vine to fill in the trellis naturally. I would definitely recommend La Crescent for growers in the lower half of Minnesota.