Marquette Grape (Bundle of 2) | Spring 2027
Reliable shipping
Flexible returns
Will it finish before your first hard freeze?
Check it on the Ripening Map (opens in a new tab)- 1 Anthracnose : Highly susceptible, 1 of 5
- 2 Black rot : Susceptible, 2 of 5
- 3 Botrytis bunch rot : Moderate, 3 of 5
- 3 Crown gall : Moderate, 3 of 5
- 4 Downy mildew : Resistant, 4 of 5
- 2 Phomopsis cane spot : Susceptible, 2 of 5
- 2 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: Marquette Grape is a grape vine rated hardy to zone 3b in our ratings (winters to -35°F), self-fertile, so one plant can crop, and it ripens about Sep 27 to Oct 9 in Missoula (our Missoula estimate).
| Hardy to | Zone 3b to 8. The b means the warmer half of zone 3 only (winters to -35°F). Find your zone with our cold hardiness calculator. |
|---|---|
| Chill hours | About 600 hours (450 to 800). 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 4 of 7 (mid), late spring to early summer here. Marquette sets fruit on its own, so one variety is enough. It leafs out early, so a frost-protected spot helps. Grapes bloom in June, well after tree fruit. Grape Pollination Chart. |
| Ripens | About Sep 27 to Oct 9 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. |
| What you get | Bare root. Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out. |
Overview
Thought that cold climates and good wine were mutually exclusive? Think again. A granddaughter of Pinot Noir, Marquette sets a new standard in cold-hardy wine grapes. Finished wines are complex, with an attractive ruby color, pronounced tannins, and desirable notes of cherry, berry, black pepper, and spice—on both the nose and the palate.
Proven Performance in Harsh Conditions
These grapes have done particularly well at a cold location in Alberton that has seen temperatures well into the -30°F range. If you're in an area that regularly sees winter temps below -30°F, it’s been our experience—and the experience of many who’ve planted Marquette over the years—that the tops may die off the first few winters. But don’t worry: they’ll reliably come back from the base each spring.
Rooted Cuttings, Not Grafts
This is totally okay because these vines are from rooted cuttings, not grafts. That means the roots themselves are Marquette, so what comes back in the spring will still be Marquette grapes. It does set the vine back a little, but eventually—usually after a couple of years—it’ll be strong enough to handle harder frosts without dying back to the roots.
A Must-Have for Montana Winemakers
This self-pollinating grape is a must for any Montanan looking to make high-quality, cold-climate wine. These grapes are going into their second year after being rooted from cuttings. Nice, strong vines with solid root systems.
Plant Size
These are vines going on their second year with an established root system.
Photos: “Marquette-grona” by ZbyszekB, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0; “Marquette-owocujący krzew” by ZbyszekB, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0.
Questions we get about Marquette Grape
Does Marquette Grape need a pollenizer?
No. Marquette Grape is self-fertile, so a single tree can set fruit. Marquette sets fruit on its own, so one variety is enough. It leafs out early, so a frost-protected spot helps. Grapes bloom in June, well after tree fruit.
How cold hardy is Marquette Grape?
We rate Marquette Grape hardy to zone 3b, which means winters down to about -35°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 Marquette Grape need?
About 600 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 450 and 800. That comes from published figures for this variety. Marquette breaks bud early once chilled, so frost-free sites with good air drainage matter more than chill in Montana. Our chill hours guide has a calculator for your winters, and our research page lists the sources.
When does Marquette Grape ripen?
About Sep 27 to Oct 9 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 Marquette Grape good for?
Our top use scores for Marquette Grape are wine (9/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.
Is Marquette Grape disease resistant?
For some diseases, yes. It's resistant to downy mildew. It holds up moderately well against botrytis bunch rot and crown gall. It's very prone to anthracnose, and prone to black rot, Phomopsis cane spot and powdery mildew. Our grape and kiwi disease resistance chart has every rating, the notes and the sources.
Will deer eat Marquette Grape?
Yes, deer love it. Protect Marquette Grape with a fence or a cage, especially while it is young.
What arrives, and when does Marquette 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.
