7 Vines Vineyard HomepageThe Story of 7 Vines: A Legacy Rooted in Love and Family
Ron and Arlie Peltier, high school sweethearts from St. Paul’s east side, built a life grounded in love, ambition, and vision. Both graduates of the University of Minnesota, they shared a passion for real estate, family, and possibility—a passion that inspired their dream to create 7 Vines Vineyard and Winery.
That dream began in the late 1980s when they approached Peter and Gertrude Ffolliott about purchasing a remarkable property once owned by Gertrude’s mother, Rachel Boeckmann, granddaughter of railroad baron James J. Hill. Though the Ffolliotts weren’t ready to sell, Ron and Arlie never stopped imagining what could be.
In 2010, the opportunity finally arrived. Drawn by their love of wine and the promise of Midwest viticulture, they planted their first vines in 2012—turning vision into vineyard, and vineyard into legacy.
The name 7 Vines came naturally. The number seven had long held meaning for Ron—it was his hockey jersey number at Johnson High School and later under legendary coach Herb Brooks at the University of Minnesota. “I’ve always been partial to the number seven,” he said. “Now I have seven grandchildren to validate it.” Their names were proudly featured on the first bottles—a symbol of family, continuity, and love.
Today, 7 Vines stands as one of Minnesota’s premier full-experience wineries, a place where community, friendship, and celebration flourish. Yet at its heart, it remains a love story. As the dream took shape, Arlie was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. She met the challenge with grace and strength, leaving her elegant touch in every corner of 7 Vines. Arlie passed away in October 2021, but her spirit continues to inspire everything here.
In her honor, the Peltiers created Reminisce—a special wine supporting Alzheimer’s research at the Mayo Clinic. It’s a toast to Arlie’s enduring spirit and a reminder that love, like wine, only deepens with time.
