La Crescent Grape (Bundle of 2)

A La Crescent grape cluster ripening on the vine

La Crescent Grape (Bundle of 2) | Spring 2027

$59.99

Reliable shipping

Flexible returns

Pollination Self-fertile

Bloom group 3 of 7 (Early-Mid)

Grape Pollination Chart

Ripening

Will it finish before your first hard freeze?

Check it on the Ripening Map (opens in a new tab)

Disease resistanceResists 2 of 7

Anthracnose : Susceptible, 2 of 5
Black rot : Susceptible, 2 of 5
Botrytis bunch rot : Resistant, 4 of 5
Crown gall : Resistant, 4 of 5
Downy mildew : Highly susceptible, 1 of 5
Phomopsis cane spot : Moderate, 3 of 5
Powdery mildew : Susceptible, 2 of 5

Scored 1 to 5. Higher resists better, and ? means no published data yet.

See it on our grape and kiwi disease chart (opens in a new tab)

At a glance: La Crescent Grape is a grape vine rated hardy to zone 3 in our ratings (winters to -40°F), self-fertile, so one plant can crop, and it ripens about Sep 30 to Oct 14 in Missoula (our Missoula estimate).

Hardy to	Zone 3 to 8. A bare number means the whole of zone 3, colder half included (winters to -40°F). Our notes have it taking -36°F. Find your zone with our cold hardiness calculator.
Chill hours	About 550 hours (400 to 750). From published figures. Montana winters give it plenty. In milder climates, make sure your winters average at least this much. Check your chill hours or see our sources.
Pollination	Self-Fertile. Bloom group 3 of 7 (early-mid), late spring to early summer here. La Crescent has perfect flowers and needs no pollenizer, even though its parent St. Pepin is female-flowered. Grapes bloom in June, well after tree fruit. Grape Pollination Chart.
Ripens	About Sep 30 to Oct 14 in Missoula (a Missoula estimate from published sources). Real years swing about a week either way. See the date for your town.
Good for	Wine (9/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 8 and up makes our Best Of lists.
Deer	A deer favorite. Fence it or cage it.
Where it came from	Read about the University of Minnesota breeding program and what else came out of it.
What you get	Bare root. Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out.

Overview

La Crescent is a white grape developed by the University of Minnesota's cold-hardy grape breeding program. Since its release in 2002, La Crescent has proven its resilience in plantings across cold regions like Montana, Vermont, and many others.

Thriving in Cold Climates

La Crescent grows particularly well in cold, exposed areas, such as in Wes Burnham’s vineyard in Kalispell. According to the licensing application, the variety is cold-hardy to −36°F (−38°C), making it a top choice for extremely cold climates.

Aromatics & Wine Characteristics

Wines made from La Crescent feature desirable aromas of citrus, apricot, pineapple, and muscat—similar to those found in Riesling or Vignoles. Notably, La Crescent lacks the 'foxy' aromas associated with V. labrusca and the herbaceous aromas linked to V. riparia, making it an appealing option for winemakers seeking cleaner, fruit-forward profiles.

Hardiness & Productivity

La Crescent is hardy to Zone 3, making it suitable for colder regions that experience harsh winters.

Plant Size

These are vines going on their second year with an established root system.

Image Credit

Image courtesy of James Luby – University of Minnesota.

Questions we get about La Crescent Grape

Does La Crescent Grape need a pollenizer?

No. La Crescent Grape is self-fertile, so a single tree can set fruit. La Crescent has perfect flowers and needs no pollenizer, even though its parent St. Pepin is female-flowered. Grapes bloom in June, well after tree fruit.

How cold hardy is La Crescent Grape?

We rate La Crescent Grape hardy to zone 3, which means winters down to about -40°F. Our notes have it taking -36°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.

How many chill hours does La Crescent Grape need?

About 550 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 400 and 750. That comes from published figures for this variety. La Crescent loses hardiness fast once its chill is met, so late-winter thaws matter more than how much chill it gets. Our chill hours guide has a calculator for your winters, and our research page lists the sources.

When does La Crescent Grape ripen?

About Sep 30 to Oct 14 in Missoula, Montana (an estimate built from published sources and our climate). Warmer places run earlier and cooler places later; our ripening map converts the date to your town.

What is La Crescent Grape good for?

Our top use scores for La Crescent Grape are wine (9/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.

Is La Crescent Grape disease resistant?

For some diseases, yes. It's resistant to botrytis bunch rot and crown gall. It holds up moderately well against Phomopsis cane spot. It's very prone to downy mildew, and prone to anthracnose, black rot and powdery mildew. Our grape and kiwi disease resistance chart has every rating, the notes and the sources.

Will deer eat La Crescent Grape?

Yes, deer love it. Protect La Crescent Grape with a fence or a cage, especially while it is young.

What arrives, and when does La Crescent Grape ship?

A dormant bare-root plant, roots wrapped in moist sawdust with a vapor barrier, shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring. We guarantee our plants bud out. Stone fruits can be slow, so if one still has not budded out by August 15, write to us and we credit you for the following spring.