Alexandria Lakes is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in central Minnesota. It is home to some of the deepest lakes in the state, which help to moderate the temperature and make it suitable for viticulture. Cold-hardy grape varieties make up the majority of plantings in Alexandria Lakes, with Frontenac, La Crescent and Traminette producing some of the best wines in the area.
©Carlos Creek Winery
The AVA covers 10,880 acres (4400ha) within Douglas County, near the city of Alexandria. Six freshwater lakes make up the boundaries of the AVA, which is home to only one winery, Carlos Creek. Its proprietor, Robert Johnson, instigated the creation of the AVA on the grounds that the area has demonstrably unique geological features – the result of extensive glaciation. The Alexandria Lake AVA was established in 2005, becoming Minnesota's first sub-AVA, and has since been joined by the multi-state Upper Mississippi Valley, which is the largest wine region in the country.
The lakes around the city of Alexandria are very deep and also have a considerable surface area. Bodies of water such as this serve to moderate the local mesoclimate, bringing slightly warmer winters and cooler summers. This effect is vital in the extreme continental climate of Minnesota, making the area better suited to viticulture.
The soils in Alexandria Lakes are a direct result of the area's glacial beginnings, having been scoured out of the surrounding landscape over time. These loamy, glacial soils are deep and free-draining and cause the vines to develop deep root systems to reach water lower in the ground. As a result, the plants are stronger, and produce smaller quantities of high-quality grapes. Lower rainfall and snowfall in the area also mean that the water table in the Alexandria Lakes region is deeper than in the surrounding regions.
While the area's best wines come from Franco-American hybrids bred at the University of Minnesota, many fruit wines are made in the region as well. A small number of Chardonnay vines are also planted within the Alexandria Lakes AVA.
