Wine and Juice Grape Varieties for Cool Climates

Acknowledgments This publication is based on New Yorl< Food and Life Sciences Bulletin 80, July 1779, Grape Varieties for New York State. The authors are indebted to their predecessors, John Einset (deceased), John Watson (deceased),Willard Robinson, Contents and Iceit11 Kimball, who developed the earlier bulletin and generated much of the information contained therein. Gary Introduction 2 Howard's expertise was invaluable to the Leading American Varieties 3 Cornell evaluations of Vitis uitzifera varieties, and Ben Gavitt and Joe Bertino American Varieties of Limited Acreage 3 (deceased) provided their skillful wine- malting expertise. Phillip McInnis, Jr., French-American and Other Interspecific Varieties 4 assisted with field evaluations and generated the early variety data bases Interspecific Varieties for Red Wine Production 4 upon which this publication was based. I~lterspecificVarieties for White Wine Production 5 Raymond Mallaber and the Field Research Unit of Geneva, as well as the Recent Introductions of Interspecific Hybrids staff of the Vineyard Laboratory of Fredonia, supplied skilled and enthusias- Cold-Hardy Varieties Developed by tic viticult~~ralexpertise. James Kamas Elmer Swenson, Osceola, Wisconsin and Nelson Shaulis provided thoughtf~ll reviews of this manuscript. We are European (Vitis uinife~a)Wine Grape Varieties grateful for financial support from the Leading Vitis uirzifem White Wine Varieties New Yorl< State Grape 1)roduction Research Fund, the New Yorl< Wine and Other Vitis vi~ziferaWhite Wine Varieties Grape Foundation, and John Dyson. To all of the above, as well as to many others Leading Vitis uinifera Red Wine Varieties who contributed in significant ways, the Vitis uinifera authors express their gratitude and Other Red Wine Varieties appreciation. Bird Damage Insect and Disease Damage Br~lceI. Reisch, Robert M. Pool, and Marp- Howell Martens are with the Department of Sources of Additional Information Horticultural Sciences, and Thornas Menicl<- Kling is with the Department of Food Disease ldentificntiofz Science, New Yorl< State Agric~lltural Experiment Station, Cornell University, lnsect Identification Geneva, New York. Weed Ma~zagemetzt David V. Peterson is with the Finger Lakes C~tlttiralPractices Grape G~ozuing Grape Program, Cornell Cooperative fo~ Extension, 110 Court Street, Penn Yan, Descriptions of Grape Varieties New York. Photo credits: Co~lcord-Mary-Ho\veII Martens Nlagal a-Rober t M. Pool Melody, Cayuga Whltc, Whlte Rlesllng, For czdditioi~alcopies, call or. ~c/i.iteto Media Chardonnay, Cabernet franc-C~III~UIII- Ser~~icesReso~irce Center, Corizell Ulzi~~ersity, catloll Services, N.Y.State Agricultural 7 Bltsii~essai2d Techilology l'arl:, Ithnca, N. Y. Experiment Stat~on 148.50, Telepho?~e607-25.5-2080. Vldal blanc--David X'cter son Introduction The majority of commercial grape Most of the grape acreage in New I'otcntial lor winter cold tolerance varieties around the world belong York is planted with the Concord is genetically controlled and is to the species Vitis uirzifera. In New variety (Table 1).This and other primarily a function of variety. The York, however, V. vinifera varieties varieties of V. labrusca have a actual level of cold hardiness are only one of a diverse group of prono~sncedfruity flavor, often attained in the vineyard, however, varieties that includes those derived referred to as American flavor. Of is affected by the health of the vine, from the fox grape, V. labrz~sca, the top five New York varieties, crop load during the previous and hybrids of native American Concord, Catawba, and Niagara season, degree of vine acclimation species with V. uznifera. This descended from V. labrz~sca; to colct when low temperatures are bulletin describes the broad range Aurore was derived from several encountered, and other factors. of varieties available for commer- American species crossed with Dormant buds may be damaged at cial use, as well as those with V. vinifera; and Chardonnay is a one temperature and trunks at potential for home vineyards and pure variety of V. vinifera. Vinifera another. The ratings of relative roadside markets. Most of the grapes are described in this publica- resistance to winter cold (Table 2) varieties described here are adapted tion and more extensively else- are generalized to reflect the to cool climate growing regions. where (Pool et al., n.d.). variation in tolerance by different Some may be suitable for use in the varieties, although cultural prac- The most important factor for a Northeast, Midwest, and Mid- tices and enviro~l~nentalconditions potential co~nmercialgrower to Atlantic growing regions of the may reduce or increase a vine's consider is market. Before planting, United States. The descript~onsand resistance. Information on relative growers should consult buyers to information in Tables 1-3 may be resistance to diseases and cold ensure that there is a demand for used to help choose varieties suited injury is found in Table 2. to specific needs. Further informa- the fruit they will produce. tion may be obtained from Coop- Grape varieties vary greatly in their erative Extension as well as from tolerance to diseases. Disease resis- the references listed at the end of tance is an important consideration this publication. when deciding which varieties are suitable for a given site. Varieties that are more susceptible to disease will require more effort to keep disease under control. Home gardeners may be especially interested in growing the more disease-tolerant varieties. I,eading American Varieties Cor-ncord is grown on a greater it a desirable dessert grape, and it is tible to fur-igal diseases than tilac of varicty of soils and under a wider the leading table gmpe variety in Concord (Table 2). Catawba also range of clinlatic conditions than New Yorlt. Slzin craclting and experiences foliar injury ~ihel-e any other variety of American excessive postharvest shelling, ozone pollution occurs. High grape. Its vine is vigorous and however, as well as the presence of acidity may be a problenl in some productive, ripening in early to seeds, limit its use for this purpose. years. This grape is used primarily mid-October i11 New York. Relative characteristics of Co~lcord in white or pink dessert wines, but Concord's versatility gives it a large and other varieties are listed in it is also used for juice production lnarlzet potential. It is the most Tables 2 and 3. More inforlnation and fresh market sales. important variety for sweet juice, on the Concord grape may be Niagara is a floral, strollglp Ameri- jelly, and preserves, and it is also found in a separate publication can flavored white grape used for used in quantity for wine produc- (Zabadal et al., 1988). juice, wine, and fresh consun~ption. tion and fresh market sales. Catawba, developed in the early It ranks below Concord in cold Concord produces medium-sized 1800s, is a spicy-flavored, slipsltin hardiness and ripens somewhat clusters bearing large, blue-bla-clz grape with a pronounced labrusca earlier. On favorable sites, yields berries. It is typical of the American aroma. To reach full maturity in can equal or surpass those of V. labrttsca-derived grapes in New York, Catawba requires Concord. Acidity is lower than for having a tough skin that separates favorable sites with long growing most other American varieties. It is readily from the pulpy flesh seasons. The vines are vigorous, grown successfully in many districts (slipskin).The pronounced fruity, hardy, and productive, but the throughout New York. labrusca flavor of Corlcord rllaltes foliage is somewhat more suscep- American Varieties of Limited Acreage Delaware is an early-ripening red tolerance (Table 2), this variety grape sales. With careful pruning, variety with small berries, small should be planted only on very its vigor and productioll maj7 clusters, and a mild American favorable sites. Other interspecific approach that of Concord. The flavor. It is an important dessert hybrid varieties have now largely fruit clusters are susceptible to variety in Japan but is used pri- replaced Dutchess in New York downy mildew. rnarily for juice and white wine in wine production. Isabella is an old, black, labrusca- New York. Rain during harvest season may cause the tender skins Elvira is a white grape descended type variety used primarily for wine. In other parts of the world to crack. Delaware requires a deep, from V. ~ipmia,the Riverbank or Isabella is one of the most common fertile, well-drained soil for satisfac- Frost Grape. The variety ripens at grapes of its type, but in New York tory vine growth; on such soils, the same time as Concord does and it is rare, having been replaced by with good management, its yields is one of the most productive vari- other varieties. Cold damage can may be as high as those of Con- eties grown in New York. It is used occur in severe winters. cord. On all but the most favorable primarily for bulk wine production. soils, Delaware should be grafted Because the skin is thin and the V. cluster is very compact, berries may Ives is a black grape of the on a phylloxera-resistant rootstocl< labrttsca type that is used to add to ensure vigorous growth. crack during some seasons if the grapes are harvested at full ma- color to red wines and juices. It is highly susceptible to danlage by the Once prized for champagne turity. The current practice is to production in New York, Delaware harvest the fruit before cracking air pollutant, ozone, which may cause diminished vigor and productivity. is now being replaced by several occurs. The must is typically high interspecific hybrid and vinifera in acidity. See also Ventura. Moore's Diamond resembles the varieties. Delaware remains, Fredonia is a blue-black, Concord- fruit of Niagara and the vine of however, one of the highest quality Concord and is one of the few American varieties for wine.

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