South Dakota, one of the 50 United States of America, is located in the centre of the northern US, bordered by Montana to the west and Minnesota to the east. The state covers just over 77,000 square miles (200,000 square km) and stretches between the northern latitudes of 42 and 45 degrees.
There has never been any kind of developed wine industry in South Dakota, not least because its continental climate is prone to extremes, making most of its mesoclimates unsuitable for quality viticulture. The bitter, icy-cold winters and hot, dry summers probibit the cultivation of most Vitis species, with the notable exception of Vitis riparia. (© Proprietary Content, Wine-Searcher.)
In the early 21st century there are just a small handful of South Dakota wineries, mostly producing wines from fruit other than grapes. Like neighboring Minnesota, South Dakota makes use of the cold-resistant Valiant grape, alongside Edelweiss, La Crosse and Frontenac. French hybrids such as Marechal Foch and De Chaunac are also grown.
