Photo: 7 Vines Vineyard and Winery
Family vineyard and winery celebrates a milestone anniversary.
Nestled in the countryside of Dellwood is 7 Vines Vineyard and Winery, a space both social and viticultural that’s been nurtured by two generations of the Peltier family. “The goal was to be a place for celebration,” says winery president Janée Peltier Katz, the daughter of founders Arlie and Ron Peltier. “We settled on a motto: We’re a destination for all good things.”
The story of the winery goes back to the 1980s, when Ron and Arlie first approached the property owners (members of St. Paul’s James J. Hill family) about buying the land. The Peltiers, who were in real estate, planned to create a new housing development on the site, but the property wasn’t available to sell. “It was probably meant to be that they didn’t acquire it when they first hoped, because years later, when they did purchase it, they wanted to leave a gift for the community and a legacy for their kids and grandkids,” Katz says. In 2010, the Peltiers finally bought the 188 acres and decided to transform the land into a vineyard, celebrating a passion for wine they’d cultivated during trips to Europe.
They knew winemaking was gaining prestige in the Midwest, including new technologies and a growing pool of talented vintners in the region. “They felt that by having the right people and a state-of-the-art facility, they could strive to make some of the best wine from our area,” Katz says. The first vines were planted in 2012, and the winery opened to the public in 2017 after several years of labor and love.
Photo: James Ramsay
“The family was smart, and they invested in the best equipment up front,” says Matt Scott, 7 Vines’ head winemaker, who joined the vineyard in 2019. A refrigerated truck keeps the grapes fresh; then, they’re hand-sorted by a small team. “Nobody in the Midwest really sorts their grapes,” Scott says. “But if you go to Napa Valley or parts of Oregon, it’s really common. You’re taking out leaves and stems and anything that shouldn’t be there.”
Details like that help set 7 Vines’ wines apart from others in the region and even in the country. It’s taken home major accolades, including many Best in Class awards in Sonoma County, and high point ratings for wines like the True North Rosé. “True North is all estate-grown,” Scott says. “It’s only grapes from Dellwood, Minnesota, competing on the West Coast at a really high level.”
After the winery opened, there was a learning curve. “We definitely hit some bumps in the road and tried to figure out who we were,” Katz says, as they found a balance between hosting private events (The winery is popular for weddings.) and being open to the public. “We wanted to be a place where people could gather and create memories.”
Having a place for memory-making became infinitely more important to the Peltier family when Arlie was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2016. “Often, it’s a disease that people don’t want to talk about,” Katz says. “Because it’s something that takes a little bit of dignity away from somebody.” In the fall of 2020, 7 Vines released its first special red blend in honor of Arlie and her journey. “We called it Reminisce,” Katz says. “When you open a bottle of wine, you start reminiscing about memories, which are really the essence of who we are as human beings.”
Founders Arlie and Ron Peltier. Arlie passed away from Alzheimer’s disease in 2021. Photos: 7 Vines Vineyard and Winery
Arlie passed away in 2021, and the winery helps keep her memory and her generous spirit alive. In gratitude for the care Arlie received at the Mayo Clinic, 7 Vines donates 50 percent of all proceeds from the annual Reminisce wine release to Mayo’s Alzheimer’s Research Center.
In addition to Reminisce, 7 Vines also produces an annual State of Hockey wine that benefits the Herb Brooks Foundation. “They’re helping communities and kids who maybe don’t have the resources to try the game,” Katz explains. “We have a love affair with hockey in my family.” Ron played under Herb Brooks—the legendary coach and Minnesota icon—in the Bantam level and then at the University of Minnesota. The two families became lifelong friends, and the Peltiers looked for ways to honor Brooks’ memory after his death in 2003. “The day Herb passed away, my dad had played golf with him,” Katz says. “We feel so strongly about the love of hockey.” The State of Hockey wine, in addition to being available directly at the winery, is exclusively poured in all suites at the Xcel Energy Center throughout the 2024–25 hockey season.
And you might have already guessed Ron’s jersey number: 7.
As 7 Vines celebrated its seventh anniversary last month, the winery hosted a big celebration that was open to the community, featuring food, music, anniversary cake and some special bottles of wine. “I don’t know how many people celebrate seventh anniversaries, but we do,” Katz says. “It’s a really special number.”
Seasonal Sips
As the weather grows colder, try one of 7 Vines’ fall and winter wine releases that are tailored to the temps.
State of Hockey. The 2024 State of Hockey wine, which benefits the Herb Brooks Foundation, is red and lush. It’s available at the winery, online and in suites at the Xcel Energy Center during hockey games.
Reserve Cuvée du Peltier sparkling. This blend of estate-grown Frontenac Blanc and Frontenac Gris makes for perfect holiday bubbles and adds glam to any occasion. Find it at the winery and online.
Una Bella Vita. With a name that means “a beautiful life” in Italian, this wine captures—you guessed it—the good life in a red blend made just for the winery’s seventh anniversary season. It’s available at the winery and online while supplies last.
Wine enthusiasts can also sign up for Club 7; members receive a curated box of four bottles, twice a year, to sample the best in seasonal sips from Matt Scott and his team. Members are also invited to two release parties each year, with special access to wine only available to Club 7 members.
7 Vines Vineyard and Winery
101 Highway 96 E., Dellwood; 651.478.6300
Facebook: 7 Vines Vineyard and Winery Dellwood, MN
Instagram: @7vinesvineyard
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