"I have always thought about it as a sacred place. It really is. It's food for the soul."
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My name is Carol Palmquist. I've been a gardener at heart all my life, ever since I was a little girl planting flowers in my mother's garden back in St. Paul, Minnesota. I've always been drawn to growing grapes. About 18 years ago I was put in touch with a couple who started Northern Vineyards Winery in downtown Stillwater. They mentored me as I established a vineyard of my own, with the idea to eventually begin selling my grapes to the winery.
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Now I'm at a place where the vineyard can produce up to 4500 pounds of grapes in a good year​. There are 3 different varieties of Minnesota hardy wine grapes, all of which were developed by the University of Minnesota.
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In the 18 years since I started, I've worked on several side projects as well. Scattered throughout the 10 acres of land that is Lake Elmo Lavender Vineyards are various flower gardens, many of which include beds of lavender. I've grown veggies and raised chickens, and have a small orchard with apple trees and pear trees. In 2003, I built a small structure that I've come to refer to as "the tea house." It's the perfect place to escape from the sun and to just relax while reading a book. There's also a gazebo, which has become my favorite place to enjoy a meal with friends and family.
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Like most of my other projects, the idea to host weddings here was not something I had in mind when I first started out- it just sort of fell into place. The vineyard and gardens are a beautiful, personal space to me, and I can't think of a better location for a couple to start their married life together!