7 Vines Vineyard HomepageProprietors, Ron and Arlie Peltier were high school sweethearts on the east side of St. Paul. They both attended the University of Minnesota, married young and raised two children in Dellwood. Real estate was always a passion of theirs and the ability to see great opportunity in the most unlikely places was a gift. That vision led them to create 7 Vines Vineyard and Winery.
It was the late 1980’s when Ron and Arlie first approached Peter and Gertrude Ffolliott to buy the property Gertrude’s grandfather had given her mother, Rachel Boeckmann. Her grandfather was railroad baron James J. Hill, who owned massive tracts of undeveloped land throughout MN in the early 1900’s. At the time, the Ffolliotts weren’t ready to sell but that didn’t keep Ron and Arlie from keeping a keen eye on the land they loved.
It was the fall of 2010 when the opportunity came for Ron and Arlie to purchase the historic piece of land.
Ron and Arlie knew the storybook setting was the perfect canvas to write the next chapter of their lives. Their love for fine wine and the advancements made to grape growing in the Midwest gave them the inspiration to start a vineyard. From the first planted vines in 2012 to the construction of the winery building, the undertaking has been a true labor of love.
The name 7 Vines was an easy choice. The number 7 has always held special meaning. 7 was Ron’s hockey jersey number. He played for Johnson high school on the east side of St. Paul and then went on to the University of Minnesota to play for Glen Sonmor and legendary coach Herb Brooks. “I was always partial to seven and always wore that number,” he said. “now I have seven grandchildren to validate it.” And validate it they did. The names of all seven grandchildren graced the neck of the first bottles produced at 7 Vines. An eloquent tribute to that legacy and the special meaning of the number 7.
7 Vines is one of Minnesota’s largest full experience wineries and a beautiful place for community, friendship and celebration.
7 Vines is also a love story. It started as a desire to possess a beautiful piece of land and transformed into so much more. As the dream unfolded, Arlie was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. 7 Vines was made beautiful by Arlie’s vision and ability to create elegance in all she touched. She fought a long battle with this cruel disease and refused to let it take her spirit-which was filled with pure kindness and love. Her fight ended in October of 2021. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her and we will continue to feel her presence in the joy, laughter and memories created at 7 Vines for years to come. To honor her, we created a a wine called Reminisce which gives back to Alzheimer's research at the Mayo Clinic.
