(Twincities) - In the past 30 years, the University of Minnesota has developed climate-enduring wine grapes that are now made into the four most widely produced wines in Minnesota. A full crop of "cold hardy grapes" can withstand temperatures of up to 33 degrees below zero. Now, a $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will allow researchers from the university and scientists from 11 other institutions to research more climate-resistant wine grapes, the acidity and taste within wine grapes and how best to market the wine to consumers.