   
WINE GRAPE CUTTINGS
Little Horse Vineyard
Cuttings will be shipped
in plenty of time for planting in the spring.
If they arrive before you are ready, just keep them in the
refrigerator until you are ready.
But - don't let them
dry out.
Descriptions are
derived from various sources and are not necessarily definitive.
For more descriptions
check: Anthony Hawkins'
Winegrape Glossary
(Be patient - takes 90 seconds to load)
http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/hort/faculty/reisch/bulletin/wine/winetext4.html
and Lon
Rombough
Information on Hardiness and Disease Resistance can be found
at the Double A
Vineyard site.
Click on the name to see a description of the
variety.
Some genetic lineage can be found at: Lineage
This
list was compiled by Dr. Michael Striem and his students. I cannot testify to
its accuracy, but Dr. Striem welcomes additions/corrections at:
mstriem@sun-world.com
Elmer Swenson developed each variety with an asterisk (* ).
He died 24 Dec 2004 at the age of 91.
For
some information on Mr. Swenson, see:
http://www.auri.org/news/ainapr00/vintage.htm
| Aurore (Seibel 5279) is
the most widely planted non-labrusca grape in New York. Processors have used
Aurore to extend the harvest season since the fruit matures in late August and
early September (about a month before Concord). The vine is hardy, productive,
and vigorous, and produces large bunches of amber colored berries. Wine quality
is variable, so the major use has been for bulk wine production, frequently
blended with V. labrusca varieties. It is vigorous, hardy and ripens early, so
it is well suited to areas with a short growing season. Yield can equal and
surpass Concord. Also is a good table variety. |
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| Baco Noir (Baco No. 1)
(Pronounced "bak-ko noo-w-arh") is an extremely vigorous variety which is best
grown on heavy soils. Excessive vigor often occurs on light soils, increasing
the risk of winter injury. Early bud break increases probability of spring
freeze damage. The variety is also sensitive to attack by soil-borne virus
diseases. Used to make a high acid, deeply pigmented (but low in tannin
content) red wine regarded by some as a good, if rustic, substitute for
Cabernet Sauvignon, particularly if given a suitable finish (eg. oak). Capable
of aging, and sometimes requiring it, its origins trace to the Folle Blanche
and a native American V. riparia strain of grape. Buds early with consequent
danger of frost damage, but secondry buds are fruitful. Ripens in late
September with susceptibility to bunch rot problems and is attractive to birds.
Extensively grown in the cool northern regions of N.
America. |
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| Cayuga White, named at
Geneva in 1972, is one of the most productive and disease resistant varieties
grown in New York. Its wine has been highly rated, having medium body, and good
balance. An important positive attribute is its versatility; it lends itself to
making semi-sweet wines emphasizing the fruity aromas, and is also made as a
dry, less fruity wine with oak aging. When harvested early, it may produce a
very attractive sparkling wine with good acidity, good structure, and pleasant
aromas. |
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| Chambourcin
(Joannes-Seyve 26-205) is a late ripening grape which may produce a highly
rated red wine when fruit fully matures. It requires a long growing season and
a site less subject to low winter temperatures, although it should be safe in
zone 5 or higher. The large, moderately loose bunches set medium sized blue
berries. The vine is very productive and cluster thinning is
required. |
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| Edelweiss - Elmer Swenson
of Osceola, Wisconsin, has been breeding hardy grape vines for over 40 years.
His first two introductions, Edelweiss and Swenson Red, were released jointly
with the University of Minnesota. Edelweiss is a large-clustered, white variety
that has good quality as a table grape and can be used to make a delightful,
slightly sweet wine. Berries have a sweet, pleasant, slightly foxy, flavor.
Fruit ripens midseason. Vines are hardy to - 20 deg. F, vigorous and
productive. |
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| Alpenglow (ES 2-8-1) - Another Swenson hybrid (cross of ES
5-1-4 x Swenson Red) - a red with long, loose cluster, berries of medium size
of good flavor, the hardiest of the reds to come from this cross. |
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| ES 5-4-29 - Swenson hybrid (from 2-4-13 x 2-5-5)
- Female Flowered plant of moderate vigor, clusters quite large, berries large,
white with high flavor like a blend of labrusca and muscat. Selected in the
fall of 1987. |
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| Glenora - An extremely high-quality, moderately winter-hardy seedless
large black table grape similar to the yellow-fleshed Himrod. This is not
really a wine grape, but I include it because I also grow a few table grapes.
This one is tasty. |
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| Léon Millot (Kuhlmann 194-2) is an early
ripening black grape produced from the same cross as Maréchal Foch. The
wines are similar, with distinct berry aromas. Vines tend to be similar as
well, although Léon Millot tends to be more vigorous and
productive. |
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| Maréchal Foch
(Kuhlmann 188-2) is a very early ripening black grape with small berries and
clusters that produce a fruity light red table wine. The vines are hardy and
medium in vigor and production. |
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| Prairie Star (ES 3-24-7) - selected in 1984 by
Elmer Swenson from his 1980 cross of E.S. 2-7-13 x E.S. 2-8-1. The fruit
matures to excellent sugar and acidity for white winemaking. The wine can be
described as typically rather neutral, absolutely not foxy, but with a fullness
in the mouth and finish that is uncommon among hybrid grape varieties. In some
years, it develops a delicate floral nose that allows it to stand as a single
variety wine. In most years, however, 'Prairie Star' is an ideal blending
component to add body and finish to thin white wines. The vine has been one of
the most winter hardy white wine selections in Minnesota, suffering little
damage to -40 deg. F. Rather resistant to mildew diseases, with the exception
of Black Rot and Anthracnose, to which it is moderately susceptible. |
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| Saturn - a red seedless grape developed at the University of
Arkansas, under the direction of Dr. James N. Moore. It is hardy to zone 5, but
probably not any colder. Grape quality is good, but like most good grapes, the
vines must be sprayed for local fungal problems. Has been used to make a fair
red wine. |
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| Seyval (Seyve-Villard 5-276, commonly marketed
as Seyval Blanc) is one of the most widely planted hybrid grapes east of the
Rocky Mountains. When harvested at optimal maturity, its wines have attractive
grassy, hay, and melon aromas. The body tends to be thin, and malolactic
fermentation and barrel fermentation/oak aging are used to enhance quality. The
vine tends to overbear and must be cluster thinned to ensure proper ripening
and to maintain vine size. |
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| St. Croix - Swenson variety (Plant patent 4928)
bears medium sized blue berries on medium clusters. The vine is very hardy,
vigorous, and disease resistant; very precocious in bearing. Cluster thinning
may be required. Very Cold Hardy. May be hard to root. Recommend callusing, rooting hormone, and bottom
heat. |
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| St. Pepin - Swenson variety (Plant patent 5771)
is a sibling of LaCrosse, but earlier ripening and fruitier, making a fruity
white wine. It
must be planted near other grape varieties since it is pistillate (female) and
requires cross pollination. Vines grow well with moderate vigor and ripen early
with good sugar/acid balance. Berries are medium sized, oval white, with a
fruity flavor, with medium-sized, loose clusters. Moderate producer but tends
to bear erratically. Wine produced is similar to J. Reisling in character. Also
an excellent table grape. Very Cold Hardy to about –25F. |
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| Traminette - A Cornell University variety, named
and released for public use in 1996. Formerly NY65.0533.13 - (JS 23-416 x
Gewürztraminer ) This hybrid produces wines of excellent quality, often
spicy and resembling Gewürztraminer, with good sugar/acid/pH balance. The
vine is much more winter hardy than its Gewürztraminer parent, productive,
and moderately resistant to powdery mildew. Maturity is late mid-season, Oct.
5-10 in Geneva, NY. Recommend
callusing, rooting hormone, and bottom heat. For
more info see: http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/hort/faculty/reisch/bulletin/traminette.html |
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