Northern Minnesota Winery Sewing and Donating Face Masks

Governor Walz has called on Minnesotans this week to make and donate face masks to aid in the fight against COVID-19. During this week-long mask drive Minnesotans with the capabilities to make cloth masks are encouraged to make and donate them to workers and residents of local congregate living facilities.

Forestedge Winery in Laporte got a jump start on that project last week. In a post to their Facebook page they said:

Thank you to my Grandma who got the best sewing machine she could 50+ years ago. It is all I sew with. So far my daughter and I have made and donated 85 face masks! The last batch of 50 went to St. Joseph Hospital in Park Rapids.

Forestedge Winery has been in operation on the edge of Pual Bunyan State Forest since 1999. The most recent owners are Steve and Kristin Twait, who purchased Forestedge Winery in March 2016. The winery produces five to six thousand gallons of wine per year on average, crafting it all in small batches.

I first learned about this winery when my fiance and his friend were running a wine review YouTube channel and tried Forestedge strawberry rhubarb wine. It was pretty good, a very Minnesotan flavor profile. If you want to try it yourself they stock it at Westside Liquor in Waite Park.