The state in the north-central part of the USA with the capital Pierre covers 199,905 km². It borders North Dakota to the north, Minnesota and Iowa to the east, Nebraska to the south and Wyoming and Montana to the west. South Dakota joined the Union on 2 November 1889 at the same time as North Dakota as the 40th state.

Commercial viticulture began in 1996 with the founding of Valiant Vineyards in Vermillion by Eldon Nygaard. He initiated the "Farm Winery Act", which made it easier for small agricultural wineries to enter into commercial wine production. Wines had already been produced from local fruits such as elderberries, apples and wild berries on family-run farms. South Dakota State University supported the industry by breeding and propagating frost-hardy varieties such as Valiant. More wineries were established in the following years.
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Diplom-Sommelier, Weinakademiker und Weinberater, Volders (Österreich)