Overview

Located just north of the Okanagan valley in the south central Shuswap, BC, Canada . Latitude: 50° 40' N Longitude: 119° 13' W Elevation: 325 m, Zone 4B.

This location requires that we are limited to cold climate varieties that can withstand -30C/-22F. 

Marquette

We trialed 50 plus varieties, including Foch, Frontenac, Valiant, etc. The only one I have kept is the Marquette. It is disease resistant, can withstand -34C, ripens 10 days ahead of the Marechal Foch and has produced some award winning wines. It has high sugar, moderate acidity, and pronounced tannins. Ideal for a big red dry wine. Sometimes Marquette wines can have a spicy character.
More information from the breeder, University of Minnesota:
http://www.grapes.umn.edu/Marquette/index.htm

Marquette wine making procedure: I used the information on the following site as a guide. See page 6 to 10.
http://tasselridge.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SimpExtMag12-Q1.pdf

Update:
Some years there can be problems with high pH in Marquette. The most likely explanation is that Marquette grown under certain conditions has an excess of potassium, which can drive up the pH. For more information, click here. This will take to the University of Minnesota site, the breeders of Marquette.
Click here for my summary of this site.
See also this article for yeast selection of cold hardy grapes.

Petite Pearl

This is a new variety bred by Tom Plocher, a Minnesota grape breeder. I look forward to trialing it soon. The following quote from the site below suggests there may be a ripening problem in my location, but other nearby location may be suitable. "It is a late-ripening variety and in the Minneapolis area has a range of maturity extending from mid-September to early October".
Read more at: http://www.winesandvines.com/template.cfm?section=news&content=69816

http://petitepearlgrape.com/

http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/4d2fedc2-133b-11e2-ac28-00144feabdc0.html  - near the bottom of page.

Update: Feb 22/2013
This grape has not been released from quarantine in Canada. Gary A is on top of this. I will update this post as I hear further.

Agria (Turan)

I have planted a few Agria for blending. It makes a fine, spicy, harmonious wine. It is mostly  used as a color-enhancing component in blended wines. Requires good soil and exposure. Works well in a cool climate. An an early ripening Hungarian vinifera with plenty of sugar.