September 3, 2026

What is a Vertical Tasting? Inside Our Marquette Exploration

Have you ever wondered why two bottles of the exact same wine—made from the same vines on the same hillside—can taste wildly different?

The answer lies in vintage variation.

To truly understand a vineyard, you have to taste its history. In the wine world, a single season’s weather leaves an indelible mark on every grape harvested. A hot, dry August creates deep concentration and bold tannins, while a cooler, rainier season yields bright acidity and delicate floral aromatics.

That is precisely why we are opening our private library cellar on Saturday, September 26, from 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM for a guided Marquette Vertical Tasting with Winemaker Patricio Aravena.

Marquette & Marquette Reserve, barrel aged wines

What Makes a "Vertical" Tasting Unique?

While a typical flight samples different grape varieties or styles, a vertical tasting keeps every variable constant except one: time.

During this event, you will taste our estate-grown Marquette and Marquette Reserve side-by-side across multiple distinct harvest years. You will experience firsthand:

How young, bold vintages mature into complex, velvety cellar gems.
How cold-climate viticulture allows cold-hardy grapes like Marquette to thrive against Minnesota's seasonal extremes.
How subtle shifts in wood, weather, and cellar aging shape what lands in your glass.

Winemaker Patricio, guiding a tasting of Marquette red wine among the vines at Rolling Forks Vineyards in Glenwood, Minnesota

Rolling Forks Vineyards Frontenac and Marquette wines in the vineyards

What to Expect at the Event

This is not a rigid or stuffy lecture—it’s an intimate, conversational deep dive designed for both curious newcomers and seasoned wine collectors.

Curated Library Flight: Side-by-side comparison of rare, library-aged bottles normally unavailable to the public.
Direct Winemaker Q&A: Chat directly with our winemaker Patricio Aravena about aging potential, cold-climate grape breeding, and blending philosophy.
Thoughtful Food Pairings: Light bites selected to highlight and contrast the unique notes of each vintage.