(HutchinsonLeader) - Wine grapes can be grown in cold climates; that’s been established since the University of Minnesota began releasing cold-hardy varieties in the 1970s. But how can the wine industry in the Upper Midwest and Northeast take the next steps toward economic viability? That’s the focus of a new $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture Specialty Crop Research Initiative. Researchers from the University of Minnesota are part of a multi-state team tackling obstacles in vineyards, wineries, tasting rooms and tourism to bring cold-hardy grapes to a wider market