The Red Trail
The Red Trail Vineyard is named after the historically significant Old Red Trail, one of the first established wagon and cart trails which guided settlers through Dakota Territory. It stretched from Fargo, ND to Glendive, MT, and passed just on the north side of the Vineyard. Through the years, many Native American artifacts have been found near the Vineyard and along the Old Red Trail, some of which are on display in the Tasting Room at Red Trail Vineyard. The Vineyard site is bordered on the west and the south by Buffalo Creek, and is 200 feet above the Maple River Valley. The area is surrounded by trees, some old and some new, and is sloped slightly to the south.
Red Trail Vineyard
The beginning of Red Trail Vineyard was quite humble. In the Spring of 2003, the Hogens decided to plant 1,000 vines to give it a try. The only problem was there were not any vines available to plant. Because cold-climate grape vines were so limited, most vineyards had placed their orders for vines in the previous Autumn. Eventually, 120 vines were secured, of two varieties:
King of the North Swenson Red
There were also about 100 vines that were planted in a nursery area, in hopes to be able to transfer them to the Vineyard in the future. This first year an electric fence was erected around five acres, grass was planted between the rows to help with wind and water erosion and weed control, and these 120 vines were nurtured along.
In the Spring of 2004, another 900 vines were planted, consisting of eight different varieties:
St Croix Frontenac Sabrevois Somerset Seedless
St Pepin Prairie Star LaCrescent Concord-type grape (originating in Greece)
Most of these vines were for wine, but a few were for eating. The same pattern was followed of grass between the rows. Grow tubes were also placed on 300 vines, due to their tender young condition, until they would acclimate to the wind and the weather. Trellises were built for the 2003 vines, as well.
Also in 2004, it was decided that Red Trail Vineyard just might need a gathering place for the people who had been showing up to see what was going on at the Hogen Farmstead. Ever since our first planting in 2003, many people had stopped to check out first-hand the latest that they had heard, and some were even put to work before they had a chance to leave, doing planting and trellis work. So, a 100-year-old granary/bunkhouse was discovered near Casselton, ND and moved to a foundation at the Vineyard. It was later discovered that the site from which this building had been moved was also along the Old Red Trail, which was very appropriate. Work immediately began to convert this very old structure into a Tasting Room. Numerous weekends were filled with many family members (and their children) putting their hands to this project.
The Spring of 2005 brought with it more vines to be planted -- about 150 total of two varieties:
Louise Swenson Toldi (originating in Latvia)
And there were some experimental varieties planted, too. Trellises were also constructed on the 2004 vines, so the days were quite busy.
In late Spring, the Tasting Room was completed, and a Grand Opening was held to celebrate. There was some pomp involved with the ribbon-cutting ceremony, and speeches by Roger Johnson, North Dakota Agricultural Commissioner, by former First Lady of North Dakota, Nancy Schaeffer, and by officials of the City of Buffalo, and the owners. There was also a good measure of hometown hospitality, as people mingled and enjoyed themselves, in helping bring Red Trail Vineyard and its Tasting Room to life.
In September, the first harvest of the 2003 vines occurred. The production of third-year vines is typically very marginal, and this harvest produced only 19 bottles of wine. This first Red Trail Vineyard wine, named Alpha Rose, proved to be very popular. The entire stock was used for tasting only, so that more people could experience a wine produced from grapes grown in North Dakota.
2006 proved to be an eventful year, as well. More vines, again about 150, were planted, of two varieties:
Frontenac Gris Valiant
Red Trail Vineyard was selected as one of the research sites for North Dakota State University’s High Value Crop Program of their Horticulture Department, where different planting depths are being tested, and how plant growth and grape production might be influenced.
The second phase of the business of Red Trail Vineyard was well under way. Tours of the Vineyard occurred every week, and a number of large group meetings and events were hosted. The largest of these was the 1st annual North Dakota Wine and Grape Harvest Festival, held on September 16th. This was an event to help promote and celebrate the wine and grape industries in the state of North Dakota. The day was marked with continuous entertainment, including musical groups, games and trivia contests, caricature drawings, horse-drawn wagon rides, tours of the Vineyard, and the Grape Stomp.
Harvest in 2006 proved to be quite different from the previous year. The vines used to produce Alpha Rose yielded ten-fold what they had the year before, and the St Croix vines, in their first year of production, nearly equaled that of the four-year-old vines. These grapes were processed into a wine by the same name, St Croix.
2007 began and continues just like previous years – busy and full of promise. The Vineyard nearly doubled by the addition of over 1,250 new vines, consisting of the varieties:
Frontenac Gris Marquette St Croix
150 elderberry shrubs were also planted, and landscaping of the area about the Tasting Room continues to be an ongoing project. The plans for the 2nd annual North Dakota Wine and Grape Harvest Festival are well under way, this year on August 25-26, and a greenhouse is ready to be assembled, when there becomes time. The kitchen in the Tasting Room was commercially approved, so meals can now be prepared at the Vineyard for tours and events.
Red Trail Vineyard has enjoyed its early years of struggle and growth, as have the many visitors who have joined us. We hope that you, too, will visit us soon, and experience the work-in-progress Vineyard, and wine produced from a North Dakota vineyard. Our hours are Saturday 1-9 PM and Sunday 1-7 PM from Memorial Day weekend through September. We again are offering tours and wine-tasting, a venue for small and large groups for gatherings, celebrations and meetings, and North Dakota wine by the glass and the bottle. It is best if you call to make an appointment for visits and events during the week days. Snacks, lunches or meals can also be included in your plans.
We are excited and proud of our Vineyard, and look forward to your visit.
Salute!
See you at the Vineyard!
The Hogens
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