Lakeville Residents Win Awards for Fruit and Wine at State Fair

If you thought that only Napa Valley residents knew how to make good wine and grow perfect grapes, think again.

Two Lakeville residents dominated the Minnesota State Fair’s fruit and wine competition this year, bringing home a combined total of 29 awards.

Luke and Peter Meulepas, both Lakeville residents, won first, second, third and fourth place prizes in a wide variety of grapes, apples and wines.

Luke Meulepas, an Academy of Holy Angels student, took home first place prizes for Toka plums, Dolgo crab apples, Whitney crab apples, Brianna grapes, Concord grapes, Edelweiss grapes, two types of Frontenac grapes, La Cresent grapes, Leon Millet grapes, St. Croix grapes, St. Pepin grapes and Swenson Red grapes. He also was awarded for having the “heaviest cluster.”

Peter Meulepas had the best plum and fortified wine.

For the full list of winners, click here.