Grape vines stolen from U of M Landscape Arboretum

CARVER COUNTY, MN – Vines that could produce the next great wine were reported stolen from the University of the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Oct. 20, the Chaska Herald reported.

According to the Chaska Herald, the theft reportedly took place between Oct. 8 and 19 overnight from one of seven research vineyards outside the Horticulture Research Center in Victoria.

New prune marks were found where the vines were missing, and the fence guarding the vineyard was manipulated to allow somebody to access the vines, according to the Chaska Herald.

Scientists in the Arboretum’s grape breeding program cross-pollinate good-tasting grapes with hardy grapes that can survive a Minnesota winter in an attempt to create grape breeds that can be used by cold-winter vineyards. Frontenac, Frontenac gris, La Crescent, and Marquette grapes are four cold hardy grape vines they have been developed and brought to the market since 1996. The most recent, Marquette, a cousin of Frontenac and grandson of Pinot noir, was introduced in 2006.

To read the full article, go to: http://www.chaskaherald.com/news/sheriff/grapes-wrath-theft-grape-vines-angers-scientist-111