3. TheTimesOnline.com
www.thetimesonline.com/index.p - [Cached] 
Published on: 3/12/2002   Last Visited: 3/12/2002

VALPARAISO -- When Anderson's Orchard and Winery owner Dave Lundstrom bought and planted some seeds for a new hybrid of grape called Frontenac, he never expected the fruits of his labor to be so fruitful. 

This fall will be the first harvest season for the orchard/winery, classifying it an estate winery. 

"When we are able to get the word out there we're an estate winery, which is a federal classification, we'll be drawing in a whole new crowd from large cities all over," Lundstrom said. "The effects on the number of visitors we have will definitely be visible." 

...
Of the grapes planted in the 10-acre vineyard, the Frontenac looks the most promising, said Lundstrom. 

To make the French hybrid, developed by the University of Minnesota's Viticultural Research program, two types of grapes were bred into one. 

Grape trials were sent to the Purdue University's Viticultural Department for eight years. 

When the Frontenac variety was released from the trials, Lundstrom brought it to Porter County. 

In 2000, Lundstrom planted the Frontenac seeds. Usually the lapse of time between planting and harvesting is three years but Frontenac exceeded expectations. 

"The vine was up to the top of the trellis by the end of one year, when most other breeds would only be three fourths of the way up," Lundstrom said. "We know we will be getting a massive harvest from this particular breed." 

Weather permitting, this year's Frontenac crop should yield 10 tons or 1,500 gallons of wine. 

The success with the Frontenac drew vineyard owners from New York to get samplings. 

...
"You should have seen them when they left," Lundstrom said. "They had a big dump truck full of Frontenac prunings and they hauled them all the way back to New York." 

Lundstrom said the prunings will be field tested in New York to see how the variety does in that climate and terrain. 

After harvest season visitors to Anderson's Orchard can try out several Frontenac wine varieties including white zinfandel style blush, dry red and port style wines. 

Other hybrids of grapes also will be harvested from the vineyard in August including Fosh and Traminette. 

Lundstrom anticipates the wines to be ready for sale in late winter of this year. 

The orchard's very first harvesting of grapes couldn't have come at a more appropriate time with the vineyard's 10-year anniversary approaching. 

"By our 10th anniversary we'll not only be able to have wine on our shelves made from our own grapes, but we'll also be considered an estate winery" Lundstrom said. "It's going to be a big year for us." 

Lundstrom said he is planning a 10-year anniversary celebration for Anderson's.