Uncovering America's best kept wine secrets
Marquette
Marquette is the new-school star of cold-climate reds. Bright, berry-driven, and smooth, it’s proof that hybrids can be both serious and seriously delicious.
Marquette is Rustic, Vibrant, and Spicy. If you like Pinot Noir, Grenache, or Merlot, you may enjoy Marquette for its similar profile.
Flavors
Cherry pie filling
Cranberry juice
A dusting of allspice
Chocolate-covered raisons
The smell of cedar chips in a garden
Imagine sitting on a cabin porch in fall while eating a bowl of cherries while your grandfather smokes a pipe next to you. It’s soulful, vibrant, and a touch rustic.
If Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc had a hardy northern cousin, it would be Marquette. It shares Pinot’s elegance and Cab Franc’s spice, but packs more resilience for cold climates. Expect flavors of red cherry, blackberry, and baking spice, sometimes accented by a little earthy beet-like character. Compared to Malbec or Syrah, Marquette feels leaner, fresher, and more vibrant: less about heavy tannins, more about lively acidity. Despite the fruity notes, it’s typically dry, not sweet, and winemakers across Minnesota, Vermont, and Michigan are proving it can deliver wines every bit as complex as more famous reds.
Acid
Marquette has bright acidity that balances its dark fruit and spice.
Tannin
This hybrid balances fruit with a steady grip, landing in the leather-glove zone without being too drying.
Alcohol
Marquette generally falls 12–13.5%. Grown in cold-climate regions like Minnesota and Vermont, its bright acidity balances alcohol and keeps the wine lively.
Serving Temp
55–60°F (slightly cool red)
Chill for 30 minutes in the fridge before serving; it will gradually warm in the glass to the perfect sip.
Food Pairing
Takeout: Pepperoni Pizza
Snack: Savory Chex mix
From the Fridge: Leftover spaghetti and meatballs
Elevated Pairing: Roast quail with cherry balsamic reduction
Where you'll find it
Marquette is a cold-hardy hybrid bred in Minnesota (2006) with Pinot Noir in its lineage. It makes structured reds with cherry and spice.
Minnesota
The birthplace: bright cherry, earthy spice, cold-climate grip.
Wisconsin
Juicy and lighter-bodied, often served slightly chilled.
Vermont
Spicy, high-acid reds that thrive in the cold.
Michigan
Brambly, berry-driven, with a fresh finish.
New York (Finger Lakes)
Juicy, spicy, with bright acidity.
The Last Drop
Developed at the University of Minnesota, Marquette is one of the newest cold-hardy hybrids. It’s sometimes called “Cabernet’s northern cousin” because it gives Cabernet-like character even though it shares lineage with Pinot Noir.