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Frontenac Grape
Frontenac Grape

Frontenac Grape

19 ReviewsAsk Questions

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Description

A cold-hardy wine grape. Developed at the University of Minnesota, this blue-black grape can withstand cold temperatures as low as -30°F and still produce grapes for making a good quality wine with a pleasant cherry aroma. Frontenac has been a consistent heavy producer and vigorous grape variety with a good resistance to powdery mildew and near-immunity to downy mildew. Grapes are produced on medium to large clusters that are usually slightly loose resulting in minimal berry splitting and bunch rot. Ripens in late August to mid-September. Self-pollinating.

Characteristics

Bloom Color White
Fruit Color Blue
Fruit Size Small
Pollination Self-pollinating
Ripens/Harvest Late August-mid September
Shade/Sun Full Sun
Soil Composition Loamy, Sandy
Soil Moisture Well Drained - Average Moistness
Soil pH Level 5.5 - 6.5
Taste Full
Texture Firm
Years to Bear 2 - 4
Zone Range 3 - 7

Zone Compatibility

This Variety's Zone Range 3 - 7
My Hardiness Zone ?
The USDA hardiness zones offer a guide to varieties that will grow well in certain climates. Each zone corresponds to the minimum winter temperatures experienced in a given area. Make sure that your hardiness zone lies within the zone compatability range of this variety before ordering.

Recommended Pollinators

This variety is self pollinating.

In many cases, you may still want to plant pollinating partners to increase the size of your crops, but with self-pollinating varieties doing so is optional. You'll get fruit with only one plant!

Tools & Supplies

Having the proper tools and supplies when growing your own can make the difference between a good harvest and a great harvest! Here's a list that our experts recommend for this variety.

Tags

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Questions & Answers

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Browse 7 questions Browse 7 questions and 25 answers
Why did you choose this?
Stark Bro's Store
Very good grape for making juice and blending with other grape juices for distinctive flavors
STEVEN C on Mar 4, 2018
I researched grapes which would grow well in Iowa and will produce a Porto style wine and this one is one of the few available.
Willy G on Apr 14, 2017
Very good grape for making juice and blending with other grape juices for distinctive flavors
STEVEN C on Mar 4, 2018
Hardy grape ripens in time for Vermont
G B on Apr 29, 2017
I researched grapes which would grow well in Iowa and will produce a Porto style wine and this one is one of the few available.
Willy G on Apr 14, 2017
Wanted a grape cold hardy, disease resistant and one to make a good wine.
Robert B on Apr 17, 2016
Trying something new. Very cold hardy and we sometimes get cold winters in Kentucky.
joey t on Mar 10, 2016
I want to add to what I have. This grape has done very well here in northern Ohio on my farm.
Charlene P on Feb 27, 2016
Hardy grape ripens in time for Vermont
G B on Apr 29, 2017
Wanted a grape cold hardy, disease resistant and one to make a good wine.
Robert B on Apr 17, 2016
is this a seedless grape?
George R on Mar 12, 2016
BEST ANSWER: Frontenac Grape is not seedless.
How big is each grape plant when you buy it?
Laura B on Mar 3, 2016
BEST ANSWER: Being bare root stock: not that big. Seemed to be about a years growth on propagated cutting. A perfect candidate for shipping, but you'll have to expect to wait at least a year for them to produce.
Will these grapes make a wine that is dry or a sweeter wine?
Cathy on Apr 11, 2016
BEST ANSWER: That'd be up to the maker. Reports I've read suggest that the grape when grown well with unshaded clusters is capable of producing very high sugar levels meaning high alcahol or residual sugar if fermentation is stopped It hasn't fruited yet for me so I can't say personally.
what will i be buying are these seeds or are they actually started grape vines?
Julia K on Feb 16, 2017
BEST ANSWER: Thank you for your question. You will receive bare-root plants, which are about 1 year old and 12-18??? tall. Our grapes will typically take 2-3 years after planting to reach maturity and bear fruit.
Is crop thinning necessary?
Steve H on Sep 30, 2016
BEST ANSWER: It's not necessary, but you will get much larger fruit with a better-developed flavor.

Four benefits of thinning out fruit are listed in this article: http://www.starkbros.com/growing-guide/article/4-benefits-thinning-fruit-trees

Customer Reviews

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Frontenac Grape in Pueblo West, Colorado
High desert, (4400ft above sea level, hot dry summers, cold mostly dry winters usually) with poor clay soils or rocky shale soils. Despite this the Frontenac Grape loves it here, my plants are 3 years in the ground and are covered with grape clusters, hail damage got 40% of the grapes, maybe 3 weeks away from harvest, we will see how the wine quality is. Some other I tried do not like it here.
August 8, 2016
Purchased
 over 3 years ago
Trained to an Arbor (recycled screen tent frame) Impressive all around
This is our 4th year, and the grapes have come on in abundance, near drought in Downeast Maine yet these grapes, after a somewhat brutal pruning early Spring- have surpassed all of our expectations for a great wine grape. Harvesting today- 9-14-16, juicy, tasty and left to hang long enough to even out the acid. Highly recommend for cold climate growers.
September 14, 2016
Frontenac grapes - great for cold northern climates!
We love our Frontenac grapes here in Chicago! They're extremely cold hardy, which is unusual for a vinifera-type variety. We couldn't be more happy with them. We'll order more in the near future.

The only thing we don't like is that the deer in our area preferentially eat our Frontenac grapes' leaves ( and they don't eat our concord grapes or Delaware grapes leaves). So, we've had to enclose them in 6 foot high tomato cages.
May 23, 2016
Purchased
 over 3 years ago
Birds Love Them
The birds love these Frontenac grapes and I have been having trouble because they almost always beat me to them. The St.Pepin and LaCrosse grapes seem to fare better; I am able to harvest them before the birds and the wine is so good. I wonder if it is the color!
May 8, 2016
Purchased
 over 4 years ago
frontenac grape lives
highly recormend. the only grape ive planted where 100% lived for 2 years in my zone (5) .ive had other grape plants die as much as 85%
May 10, 2017
Old Crow Vineyards (owner )
Byou far the hardiest and healthy plants I have brought. Plan on going back when I need more.
May 11, 2017
Purchased
 over 2 years ago
Cold Climate Grape
Seems like a slow grower in Southwest PA but definitely holds up to below zero winter temps.
May 14, 2016
Purchased
 over 4 years ago
Frontenac Grape
We are in May in Alaska and there is no sign of life in my Frontenac Grape vines. I don't think that they are right for Alaska.
May 23, 2016
Purchased
 over 3 years ago
Awesome!
Strong plants with great growth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 12, 2018
Purchased
 1 year ago
Vigorous plants
In a single year they grew to fill their 2 wire trellis. I'm spur pruning and this year I'll have a decent harvest, where other grapes would need another year at least.
May 9, 2017
Purchased
 over 2 years ago

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