University of Vermont Extension
Department of Plant and Soil Science
Anytime News
Article
COLD CLIMATE GRAPES
Dr.
Leonard Perry, Extension Professor
University of Vermont
Think
of wines and grapes and most think of Mediterranean climates such as
France, Italy,
or California. In the last couple of decades an increasing
number of wineries and vineyards have emerged in cold climate states,
in part
from the development of newer, cold-hardy varieties that one can grow
at home
as well.
It
may surprise you that grapes already are the largest fruit crop in the
U.S., larger
even than citrus and apples. The U.S. is the
fourth largest producer of grapes in the world, with over half (55
percent)
used for wine.
Some
grapes are cultivars (cultivated varieties) of species, often just
called
varieties. Popular European varieties
come from one species (Vitis vinifera) and include Cabernet,
Merlot, Chardonnay, and Riesling. For
the most part, these are not suited to northern climates. The American
varieties Catawba, Concord and Niagara come
from one species, the fox grape (V. labrusca), and Norton from another
species (V. aestivalis). Other
more rare American varieties include Delaware,
Elvira, and Isabella. American grapes
tend to be more cold-hardy, rugged, and are looked on by
traditionalists as
having a "foxy" or wild flavor.
Then
there are the French-American hybrid varieties including 'Baco Noir',
Marechal
Foch', 'Seyval Blanc', 'Vidal Blanc', and 'Vignoles'. It is
interesting that what began the
development of these was the introduction to Europe
in the mid-1800's of devastating American pests and diseases.
The European varieties of the time were not resistant to these, so
breeding
began with resistant American species.
Releases
of new varieties by the Geneva Experiment Station of Cornell University
in the
latter decades of the 1900's helped expand the New York state wine
industry. These include the white varieties Cayuga
White (1972), Chardonel (1990), Horizon (1982), Melody (1985), and
Traminette
(1996).
What
has made many wineries possible in colder climates recently are the
varieties
developed by Minnesota breeder Elmer Swenson,
and released by the University of Minnesota. For red grapes these
include Marquette,
Frontenac, and St. Croix, and for white grapes
LaCrescent, Swenson White, and Prairie Star.
Most of these Minnesota
varieties are hardy to -30 degrees (F).
These were developed beginning in 1943, and are the result of crossing
French hybrids with selections of an American species, the frost grape
(V.
riparia).
Then
there are grapes best suited for eating, usually called "table
grapes". With potential for growing
in cold climates are Concord,
Mars, Reliance, Somerset Seedless, Swenson Red, and Vanessa.
Increasingly there are specialty nurseries
for obtaining these cold-hardy grapes, both for table and wine, as well
as some
vineyards (www.lincolnpeakvineyard.com).
When choosing grape varieties, in
addition to considerations of use, flavor, and hardiness, look for
disease-resistance. Depending on climate
and location, possible diseases include black rot, powdery and downy
mildews,
botrytis, angular leaf scorch, phomopsis, and anthracnose. More
information on these diseases, relative
resistance of varieties, and results of Vermont
grape trials can be found at a University of Vermont website
(pss.uvm.edu/grape).
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