COLEHARBOR, N.D. (KFYR) – North Dakota is making a name for itself in the wine world. The state is now offering grant money to fruit and wine producers to grow those businesses.
The Department of Agriculture sees wine as a way to toast the state and bring in more tourism.
In the gently rolling hills outside Coleharbor, a quiet transformation is taking root, glass by glass.
Wolf Creek Winery, a small but determined operation, began not with a business plan, but with a personal journey.
“The Wolf Creek Winery kind of started as a dream,” said Randy Albrecht, co-owner and winemaker. “I learned about winemaking, became passionate about the process, and we started the winery in the basement of our house.”
That dream emerged from an unexpected chapter. After facing health challenges that required treatment in Rochester, Albrecht followed some unusual medical advice.
“My doctor said, ‘You should drink more wine or eat some liver,’” he recalls with a laugh. “I started visiting wineries, came home and just started making wine.”
But North Dakota’s climate is notoriously unwelcoming for traditional grape growing. The short growing season and extreme cold present challenges that most vineyards don’t face. Still, science and a bit of regional ingenuity are helping wineries like Wolf Creek thrive.
“We need cold-hardy grapes,” Albrecht explained. “Fortunately, breeders and the universities in North Dakota and Minnesota have developed varieties that survive our winters and still make quality wine.”
Now, the state is stepping in to help. The North Dakota Department of Agriculture has announced $80,000 in available funding to support the state’s growing wine and grape industry. Proposals can focus on research, promotion or marketing, all aimed at fostering a stronger local wine economy.
“The grants are a useful tool to promote the wine industry,” Albrecht said. “As wineries come online and produce more wines, there’s a greater need for grapes.”
Currently, many wineries import grapes from Minnesota and other nearby states. But Wolf Creek is planting a vineyard of its own, using grape varieties specifically bred to withstand North Dakota winters.
With state investment, scientific innovation and the passion of local vintners, the hope is that North Dakota wine will become more than a curiosity; it could become a thriving, homegrown industry.
“It’s about building something sustainable,” Albrecht said, “and getting more local wine drinkers to the table.”
The deadline to apply for the grant is June 29.
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