7 Vines Vineyard HomepageThe Story of 7 Vines: A Legacy Rooted in Love, Vision, and Family
Ron and Arlie Peltier, high school sweethearts from the east side of St. Paul, shared a lifelong bond built on love, ambition, and a deep appreciation for possibility. Both attended the University of Minnesota, married young, and raised their two children in Dellwood. United by a passion for real estate and a remarkable eye for opportunity, they envisioned something extraordinary—what would eventually become 7 Vines Vineyard and Winery.
Their journey began in the late 1980s when they approached Peter and Gertrude Ffolliott to purchase a remarkable piece of land Gertrude had inherited from her mother, Rachel Boeckmann. Rachel’s father, the famed railroad baron James J. Hill, had acquired vast tracts of land throughout Minnesota in the early 1900s. Though the Ffolliotts weren’t ready to sell at the time, Ron and Arlie never stopped dreaming about the land they had come to love.
In the fall of 2010, the opportunity finally arrived—and with it, a new chapter. They knew the storybook setting was the perfect canvas for their next adventure. Inspired by their love of fine wine and the growing momentum of Midwest viticulture, they planted their first vines in 2012. From that moment forward, 7 Vines became a true labor of love—from grape to glass, vine to vision.
The name 7 Vines came naturally. The number seven had long held a special meaning for Ron—it was his hockey jersey number while playing for Johnson High School and later under the 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.” And validate it they did. The names of all seven grandchildren were proudly displayed on the neck of the very first bottles—a tribute to family, legacy, and love.
Today, 7 Vines stands as one of Minnesota’s premier full-experience wineries—a place where community, friendship, and celebration flourish.
But 7 Vines is more than a winery—it’s a love story. What began as a dream to own a beautiful piece of land became something far greater. As their dream took shape, Arlie was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Though she battled this cruel disease with grace and strength, she never let it steal her spirit. Arlie’s elegant touch and creative vision can still be felt in every corner of 7 Vines. She passed away in October 2021, leaving behind a legacy of kindness, love, and resilience that lives on in every glass raised here.
In her honor, the Peltiers created Reminisce—a special wine that supports 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.
