Edelweiss
An Elmer Swenson white with classic grapey, Concord-family aromas. It's the go-to grape for sweet, juicy Midwest white wines and a nostalgic favorite.
Edelweiss is the grape behind many of the sweet white wines poured across the Midwest. Elmer Swenson developed it with the University of Minnesota, and it was released in 1980. It inherits the grapey, Concord-like aroma of American native vines, a character wine people call foxy, and it survives winters to about -30°F.
What It Tastes Like
If you grew up on grape juice or Welch's jelly, Edelweiss will taste familiar. The grapey core comes with honey, pineapple and ripe pear. Picked early, the grapes make a fresher, lighter wine with less of that foxy note. Picked ripe and finished sweet, they make a juicy, aromatic wine that's hard to dislike on a summer patio.
Where It Grows
Edelweiss is common in Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, the Dakotas and Illinois. Older vineyards in Michigan and the Northeast grow it too, and it's also sold as a table grape.
What to Look For
- Sweet Edelweiss is the classic and often a tasting room's bestseller.
- Semi-sweet or late-harvest versions add honeyed richness.
Wine snobs sometimes look down on Edelweiss. Don't let them stop you: a well-made, cold Edelweiss on a hot afternoon is exactly what it's meant to be.
Where to Find Edelweiss
Wine regions on American Winery Guide where Edelweiss is grown or poured: