Heritage Vines of
the Hudson Valley

A seedling of Clinton, bred by J. H. Ricketts of Newburgh, NY by 1879. It is vigorous to very vigorous, healthy, productive, very winter hardy, and very resistant to fungus diseases. Bacchus adapts well to a wide range of soils. It ripens by late mid-season. The clusters are small to medium, with thin-skinned berries. Its virtues include its high sugar content and high productivity. The wines are big, dark, fruity and flinty with muted native-American labrusca-type, strawberry, and black cherry flavors that can be improved with wood aging. The wines have big middle acids and tannins to provide its wines with great body and presence. The wine is not overpowering, so it can be utilized in blends.

Hybridized around 1862 by the Underhill Family of Croton Point, NY. It comes from a seed of Concord fertilized by Black Prince. This is a self-infertile variety, but easily pollinates in a mixed variety vineyard. It buds out late and its leaf pattern looks very much like vinifera, but its thick leathery leaves are olive colored like Concord. Its female flowers open by mid-season and it ripens by mid-season like Concord. The variety is vigorous in the field on heavy loam soils, has good cold resistance, and is only moderately susceptible to fungus diseases. The clusters are large, long, and tapering, moderately compact to moderately loose. The flavors are integrated and full with a combination of soft Native-American labrusca and some Muscat elements.

Developed in 1863 by the Underhill Family of Croton Point, NY. It is a hybrid of Delaware and Chasselas de fontainbleau. Croton has a medium to small sized yellow cluster and berries. It has moderate vigor and winter hardiness, but good fungus disease resistance. The grape ripens by mid-season with superior vinifera/Delaware flavors suitable for wine production

A premium grape that was first identified in Ohio in 1849 and named by the nursery owner A. J. Downing of Newburgh, NY. It produces a white wine that is great either alone or in blends. Delaware makes a quality dry or semi-dry white wine. It prefers a rich, but not too rich, loam or slightly clay loam soil. It is winter hardy. The medium-sized vine has moderate to average vigor and productivity. It is resistant to fungus diseases. Delaware ripens early mid-season to mid-season, with high sugar levels. It can hang on the vine for a long time to produce exceptional dessert wines. Delaware is versatile in the cellar. It can make delicate and interesting fruity/floral dry table or sparkling wines. The wines have flavors of white peaches, guava, honey, ripe bananas, and almonds with a musky element in both the nose and body. Semi-sweet or late harvest wines possess ripe guava, honey, apricots, orange rinds, ripe bananas, muscat, and almond flavors.

Developed by A.J. Caywood of Marlboro, NY in 1868. This mid-late to late season ripening grape has relatively good fungus disease resistance and can be some-what cold tender in the coldest of winters. The vine has strong vigor with medium to large long slender clusters of medium sized berries. Along with Delaware, it is one of the best native American hybrid grapes for wine production. Dutchess does not want extremely rich soil nor close pruning. This quality wine is clean, soft, and fruity with pear flavors. It is not a foxy wine that can be made either dry or sweet and does well with oak aging.

A chance seedling found by Mr. Thorne of Fishkill Landing (Beacon), NY around 1847. The vine is vigorous, very winter hardy, and productive. Its clusters and berries are well formed and of good size. The cluster is loose, large, and rather long and slender. The flavor of the grape has little foxiness and is rich, sweet, and vinous, which makes a good and hearty red wine. The sugars are high with low acid. It ripens late early to early mid-season, but hangs on the vine well and does not crack or shell. Some of its disadvantages are its moderate susceptibility to fungus diseases and sterile female flowers. The flowers bloom late, but with a compatible pollinator, Eumelan does pollinate easily. Eumelan can produce relatively complex flinty red wines with good body and fruit in the nose and taste for a heritage variety.

A white grape of medium-sized clusters that are long and rather slender cylindrical. Developed by J.H. Ricketts of Newburgh, NY, in 1879. This winter hardy plant is vigorous to very vigorous, fungus disease resistant, and productive. It is a hybrid of Clinton by either Hartford or some other white variety that ripens by late mid-season. Empire State is a fine tasting labrusca grape that with some fine and complex pear, banana, and muscat overtones

Identified by Dr. C.W. Grant of Iona Island, NY in 1855. A relatively late ripening variety that is resistant to cold injury and is of moderate vigor. It tends to overbear, so it must be closely pruned. It grows well in deep sandy or gravelly clays and is resistant to fungus diseases. The grapes are an attractive soft pastel pink color that makes a white to amethyst colored wine. It is a quality table grape that makes interesting and fun wines. While the wines have a soft labrusca flavor, it is muted and more like a mixed fruit salad with hints of guava.

This variety was bred by J. H. Ricketts of Newburgh, NY and introduced in 1880. It is a Concord x Iona hybrid and is excellent as a table grape or for wine production. Jefferson can resemble, but is not equal to the vigor, productivity, and fungus disease resistance of Concord. In color and quality, the fruit resembles Iona, but the cluster is much prettier than Iona. It produces fruit early-late season. Jefferson is not particular about its soils. It is a superior table grape because of its attractive appearance and very large to large clusters. The berries are medium-large and uniform in color. The flavor and texture of the grape is juicy with rich vinous flavors and delicate strawberry-like aroma. The light pale golden colored wines are of excellent quality; with fruits of apricots, soft labruscas, honey, pears, melons, and light almonds.

Either purposely bred or found by Dr. Charles Grant who established a vineyard and breeding program on Iona Island, near Bear Mountain State Park before 1860. It is a riparia/labrusca hybrid which is evidenced by its taste. The must produces a very dark juice, with high acids and soft to non-existent labrusca flavor, with overtones of fresh and cooked strawberries. In the 1880’s, in Bordeaux, France, it was reputedly used as a teinturier grape to add color to lighter colored red wines. The cluster is medium sized and compact. It is a very vigorous vine that blooms early, but ripens early-late in the season. It is very fungus disease resistant, winter hardy, very productive, has high sugar levels, and does well on many different soil types.

Was hybridized in 1898 by Francois Baco who lived just south of Bordeaux, France. This extremely vigorous variety can be grown on relatively heavy clay soils, loams, and stony soils. It has an early bud break so should not be grown in areas that are prone to early frost. The grape ripens by mid-season, has good fungus disease resistance, and is winter hardy. This productive grape has long clusters of small to mid-sized blue/black berries, with good sugar levels and high acid. It takes well to malolactic fermentation to reduce malic acid. The wines can be made light or heavy. This dark purple/red wine can have notes of red cherries, blackberry, raspberry, and plums. while low in tannin, it can be made into a wine that has the full body of earth, chocolate, eucalyptus, and leather that ages as well.

A very high-quality variety that can be made alone or blended with other reds to enhance any blend. A mid-season ripener that is moderately hardy to hardy to winter damage. It buds out late, so is suited to sites that experience late spring frosts. The vine is vigorous, productive, and resistant to fungus diseases. The clusters are compact and moderately small with black berries. The wines have medium body and are well balanced. Chelois has great fruit and tannin structure, but can be made into a rosé. This aromatic wine has complex dried black cherry/raspberry notes with hints of tobacco, cedar, and black pepper.

This grape from Alsace was bred by 1911 and is early mid-season to mid-season ripening grape that is very winter hardy with excellent fungus disease resistance. It is very vigorous and productive. This Leon Millot clone has long clusters of medium small black berries. The must is inky, high in sugar, and rich in tannins. It makes full bodied wines with firm tannin structure and herbal notes. These wines have rich aromas of mahogany, cooked fruits, chocolate, licorice, eucalyptus, and leather. (Wagner clone specifically)

By 1911, this fairly early ripening grape originated, along with Leon Millot, in Alsace, France. It is very winter hardy and has excellent fugus disease resistance. The vines have medium vigor and are moderately productive. Foch has small to moderate sized clusters that are compact. The must is high in sugar and acids that makes a light to medium bodied dark ruby to purple colored wine with blackberry and black raspberry nose and taste. These grapes can also be made into appealing nouveau style wines.

Was developed in 1921 by Bertille Seyve, Jr., whose nursery was located on the Rhône River, just south of Lyon. Rayon d’Or is the pollen parent of Seyval Blanc and shares this parent with Vidal Blanc. Seyval Blanc’s progeny include Cayuga White, Chardonel, La Crosse, Melody, and St. Pepin. Seyval Blanc is adaptable to where it grows and can make many different styles of wine, such as: very fruity, semi-dry Germanic-like whites; Sancerre/Sauvignon Blanc-like; and Chablis-style Burgundy/Chardonnay-like wines. Seyval Blanc buds out fairly early, but has a secondary crop if a late spring frost hits. It is winter hardy and moderately resistant to most fungus diseases. The clusters are medium-large to large and compact to semi-compact. Seyval grows on a standard-sized vine of medium vigor. It ripens mid-season to late mid-season. The vine is very reliable in the field and highly productive.

A mid-season to late ripening grape that maybe somewhat tender to winter injury in the coldest of years. The vine has medium vigor, but produces very large yellow gold/pink loose clusters of tear shaped grapes. It is not sensitive to fungus diseases and tends to over crop, so must be thinned and closely pruned. The wine is of excellent quality. It is delicate and perfumey with high acid levels, flint, and spicy undertones. Because of its high acid, it can be used in sparkling wines. A real keeper.

This grape is very versatile in the cellar and can make either bone-dry, steely white wines; barrel-aged Fumé Blanc type wines; sparkling wines; or sweet dessert/ice wines. Vidal Blanc was hybridized by Jean-Louis Vidal, (1880-1976), director of the Institut de Recherches Fougerate at Bois-Charentes, located near Cognac, France. The grape’s seed parent, Ugni Blanc, is vinifera and its pollen parent is the French-American hybrid Rayon d’Or. Vidal Blanc is a thick-skinned grape that is moderately hardy to hardy to winter damage. It is generally resistant to fungus diseases. The vine is vigorous, a consistent producer, and very productive. It buds out late to very late, but if damaged by a late spring frost, produces a secondary crop. Vidal matures late to very late and attains high sugars. One of the great strengths of Vidal is that it is good on its own or used in a blends.

Vignoles was bred around 1930 by Jean François Ravat, of the Saône-et-Loire, Burgundy. This versatile white wine grape is similar to Riesling in many ways both viticulturally and in its wines. It can be made into barrel-aged dry wines; simple semi-dry county wines; and very complex sweet late-harvest wines. The grapes have high acids and sugar levels. Vignoles is winter hardy and fungus disease resistant, but its vine is not very vigorous. Its bud break is late, with very compact clusters that are relatively small and conical. This makes Vignoles only a moderate producer. Vignoles’ tight clusters make the grape even more susceptible to cracking, bunch rot, and botrytis. The grape ripens by late mid-season for dry wines, but can be picked much later for late-harvest white wines. It is good for blending as it adds complexity, color, and weight to white wine blends.

A Carter x Black Hamburg hybrid, was bred in 1851 by Edward Staniford Rogers of Salem, MA. Agawam is purplish-red grape that makes a white wine. Agawam is a vigorous variety that is hardy with thick canes. It is winter hardy and productive, but needs a careful spray program to combat fungus diseases. Agawam prefers a somewhat heavy soil, doing better on clay than on sand or gravel. Agawam is harvested mid-season to late-mid season, soon after Concord. Of the Rogers hybrids, it is the only completely self-fertile variety, but its production is enhanced when placed in a mixed variety vineyard. The berry is large to very large. The attractive cluster is medium-large to large and somewhat loose to moderately compact. The grape has a thick tough skin, but it is not a slip skin variety. The sugar levels are good, with acid levels like Concord. It is a dual-purpose grape that is good for the table and for wine production. It makes a quality white wine that is aromatic and fruity with a Muscat flavor and herbal finish, that blends well with other white wines. As a table grape, it is rich, sweet, with a soft aromatic Muscat quality.

Bred by E. S. Rogers of Salem, MA in 1851. It is a Carter x Black Hamburg hybrid. Barry is a vigorous variety that is winter hardy. The variety is productive and somewhat susceptible to fungus diseases, especially powdery mildew. Its female flower is sterile and its best pollinators include Concord, Cottage, Empire State, Delaware, Iona, and Winchell. Barry is harvested late mid-season to early late season. The berry is large to very large with a thin skin that adheres to the pulp. The attractive cluster is compact, medium to large, short, very broad, slightly tapering to cylindrical, that sub-divides often with double shoulders. In sum, it grows well and has a soft and appealing Concord-like taste with little or no Muscat flavors.

A hybrid developed by T. V. Munson that is really a hybrid of various E. S. Rogers varieties. (Herbert x Meladel (Delago (Delaware x Goethe) x Brilliant (Lindley x Delaware)). This variety is productive, winter hardy, and fungus disease resistant. It has a medium small bunch of large pink colored berries. This is a dual-purpose grape that is good for the table and for wine production. The wines are bright, very fruit forward, and aromatic with a soft and approachable muscat flavor. It reminds me of Lindley in many ways. This quality variety needs more time to be properly evaluated.

The seed of a wild grape that was planted by Ephraim Bull of Concord, MA in the fall of 1843 that was crossed with Catawba. Concord was introduced in 1854 and spread rapidly throughout most of America’s fruit-growing regions to become the leading blue grape grown in the eastern United States as early as 1865. It is a vigorous to very vigorous variety that is productive on many different soil types and in different climates. Concord is very winter hardy and relatively resistant to fungus diseases that ripens by mid-season to late mid-season. The fruit quality of Concord is not high; it lacks richness and delicacy of flavor and does not make very good wine (except for sherries and ports) when compared to other labrusca varieties. However, as a table grape, the cluster is of good size and attractive.

Ephraim Bull’s second most successful hybrid after Concord. Cottage is a seedling of Concord and was introduced in 1869. Cottage resembles its seedling parent Concord in many ways. Cottage is a very vigorous growing variety. The canes are thinner and more spindly than Concord and it develops a thicker canopy. Cottage is more particular to the soils in which it thrives, unlike Concord. Otherwise, it is a very vigorous, healthy, and winter hardy that has moderately good fungus disease resistance, but it is not as resistant to fungus diseases as Concord. Cottage fruit is of better quality than Concord. Cottage wines have a more muted foxy labrusca flavor profile, with tannins that are more balanced and a softer acid structure. This variety ripens at about the same time as Concord. The clusters are somewhat smaller than Concord, with similar sized berries. It can make acceptable wines, especially when used as a base for ports and sherries or for semi-dry country red wines.

Planted by Diana Crehore of Milton, MA about 1834 from open pollinated Catawba seeds. Diana did not do well in cool New England; however, it thrived in the warmer climate and soils of the Mid-Hudson River Valley. Diana has a full and pretty cluster, exotic flavors, and suitable sugars for wine. The flavor is similar to Catawba, but with more guava flavors that are rich, spicy, and tangy. The vine is capricious where it grows; and does best on relatively poor, dry, gravelly soils. The cluster is moderately compact with a delicate pale red/amber to rose color. It ripens about one week to ten days after Concord. The vine can be somewhat cold tender, is somewhat resistant to fungus diseases, with medium-sized berries. The cluster is medium large and stubby.

A Rogers’ hybrid of Carter x Black Hamburg, is a high-quality grape that shows more Muscat and less labrusca flavors that meld well together. Descriptions of its vigorousness range from being a medium difficult grower to being vigorous to very vigorous. This varied description may be because Goethe is sensitive to the soils that it grows in. Goethe likes sandy and gravelly soils. The variety is hardy to very winter hardy, productive, and fairly immune to fungus diseases, but is sensitive to powdery mildew. It blooms mid-season and is one of the few Rogers hybrids that is partially self-fertile. Some of the more effective self- fertile varieties that can be used to pollinate it are Concord, Delaware, Diamond, Iona, and Winchell. The berry size is above medium to very large. The cluster is attractive, of medium length, but broad and tapering. Its flesh is tender with a pleasant aromatic soft labrusca taste. Goethe has good sugar levels for wine and low acids. The harvest date for Goethe is late to very late.

A quality Rogers black grape that can be used for wine or the table. It was used extensively by the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station grape breeding program to develop Steuben, Corot Noir, Noiret, and Geneva Red (GR-7). Like most other Rogers hybrids, it is a Carter x Black Hamburg cross. Herbert is vigorous to very vigorous and productive. Its growth habit is open and airy which helps to keep fungus diseases in check. The variety is winter hardy to moderately winter hardy and its fungus disease resistance is good. The bloom date is mid-season and has a self-sterile female flower that pollinates with Concord, Delaware, Empire State, Iona, Winchell, or Worden. The berry is large, with a moderately loose cluster that is large to medium large, broad and tapering. The harvest date is mid-season along with Concord. Overall, its taste is of a soft Concord variety with a few Muscat flavors.

A Rogers hybrid of Carter x Black Hamburg. Massasoit is a strong, hardy, and a vigorous to very vigorous grower that is productive. It is winter hardy, but fairly susceptible to fungus diseases. It is self-sterile that blooms mid-season to late season. The berry is large to medium-large. Its thin skin adheres mostly to the pulp. The cluster size is medium and short, rather broad, that is cylindrical to tapering with a single shoulder. The harvest date is early for a Rogers hybrid, along with the early ripening varieties such as Delaware. The sugars of Massasoit are suitable for wine production with moderately high acids like Concord.

A Rogers hybrid of Carter x Black Hamburg. Salem is a vigorous variety that is moderately productive that can be variable in its production. The variety can be susceptible to fungus diseases without a good spray program. It is very winter hardy. Salem is not particular to the soils that it will grow in. Its self-sterile flowers pollinate with Catawba, Concord, Delaware, Iona, Empire State, Jefferson, Niagara, Winchell, and Worden. Its harvest date is early for a Rogers hybrid and it ripens mid-season along with Concord or even before. The berry is large to very large. Its cluster is medium to large, compact, short and broad. This is a dual-purpose grape. It is a handsome fruit of quality for the table and makes a high-quality white wine for a labrusca-type grape. It has a soft labrusca/ Muscat nose, with a delicately rich aromatic, sprightly, and vinous flavor. Salem is relatively low in sugar, with low acidity like Delaware.

A chance seedling found at our farm in Athens, N.Y. around the year 2000. In the field, it is productive, fungus disease resistant, and winter hardy. Its canopy has open growth, the canes grow laterally, and before its fruit ripens, its canes harden off so that it is winter hardy. Annie Noir clusters are large, open, with large blue-black berries and clusters. The berries start to fall off as it ripens, so it is best to harvest when it is at or before maturity. The wines are clean and pleasant with lots of berry fruits and soft tannins. It has slightly cooked blueberry, blackberry, and strawberry jam notes, with some elements of black cherry, raisins, and anise in its nose and flavor profile, that is grounded with burnt toast and wet bricks. While it is a relatively soft wine, it has darker notes of light chocolate, cooked plums, and light black pepper. Its fruit/acid profile is balanced with an under pinning of charcoal, light tobacco, and tannin to support its fruit.

Created by Francois Baco in 1898, it is a hybrid of Folle Blanche x Noah. It is still recommended in France to make brandy in Armagnac. This variety is highly productive, very fungus disease resistant, and winter hardy. The white/green cluster is long and cylindrical. Its bud break is fairly early, and it ripens late in the season to attain proper sugar levels. While recommended to be distilled in France, in the Hudson Valley, it makes clean and fresh white wines that are high in acid. Its flavor profile includes green apples, pink grape fruit, lemons, and flint that melds with softer flavors of melons. While overall it is a neutral wine, it is a good blender that adds substance to the middle of a white wine blend. In addition, its skins can be used to make superior brandy as is done in Armagnac.

A hybrid of S. 5455 (Plantet) and an unknown white vinifera. The cluster is of medium size, compact and winged, fungus disease resistant, productive, and cold hardy. The wines are soft, with elements of pears, pink grapefruit, and slight peach and banana flavors, with a firm acid profile. The wines are bright with a clean finish. This variety needs more time to be properly evaluated.

A superior white grape variety that was grown by Philip Wagner of Boordy Nursery, Maryland. Unfortunately, the name tag of this variety was lost, but since it was such a superior grape variety, Philip continued to grow it and sell it in his nursery catalog as “Boordy White Rogue”. This variety was “a keeper” for Mr. Wagner, so we keep it in our Heritage Program.

Bred by Joanny Burdin in Saone et Loire, France, it is believed, just after 1940. This grape is moderately hardy with good fungus disease resistance even in wet years. It ripens by late mid-season and has strong vigor with heavy production levels. The bunches are long and the berries are larger with thicker skins. The wine is superior with a pronounced berry/raspberry nose and soft tannin structure like a Gamay Noir. This grape is a real comer.

This grape has average to below average winter hardiness, but solid fungus disease resistance. A late season ripener whose plants have moderate vigor but heavy production, hence they should be cluster thinned. The bunches resemble pinot noir, but are longer. The wine is superior, resembling a soft pinot noir with bright red color, flavors of red cherries, raspberries, and strawberry jam. The wine structure is framed by soft tannin and earth.

It is a Bertille Seyve, Sr. hybrid. A blue-black grape of great promise in the field and cellar whose heritage is B.S. 872 x S.5410. It will take more time for us to evaluate this variety, but is it very productive in the field, with excellent fungus disease resistance. The cluster is medium-large and loose. We have started to make this wine as a varietal wine and use it in blends. More will be detailed later on the quality and flavor profile of its wines.

Is a versatile wine grape that was developed before 1960 by Joannes Seyve in Bougé Chamalud, just south of Lyon. Chancellor is one of its parents. It can make Rhône or northern Italian-type reds or Anjou-type rosés. Chambourcin buds out late, but produces a secondary crop after a late spring frost. The vine is moderately vigorous, of standard size, and produces very large, loose bunches. It is consistently productive, but needs cluster thinning. It does well in deep, well-drained soils. It is moderately winter hardy to hardy. The grape is somewhat resistant to fungus diseases. The grape ripens late to very late. Chambourcin has elements of a soft, light Rhône or Cabernet Franc. It has a soft, but firm, tannin structure, lovely flavor profile, subtle nuances, and prominent black pepper aroma. These flavors overlay nicely with the grape’s basic berry front of blackberries, black cherry/raspberry, cooked mulberries, and chocolate.

Bred by Bertille Seyve, Sr. (1864-1939), (B.S. 2667) is Couderc Noir x B.S. 872 hybrid. While not yet commonly grown in the Hudson Valley, it shows much promise at our farm at Cedar Cliff, Athens, NY. It is moderately winter hardy, with solid fungus disease resistance. The vine is of standard size, is a vigorous grower, with moderately high yields. The variety buds out late to avoid late spring frosts and has an airy growth habit to help minimize fungus disease pressure. It is in the cellar where Le Colonel shines, with complicated flavors of cherry, cranberry juice, raspberries, and beach plums. The body of the wine is serious, which is steely and flinty, with great tannin structure. The wine is big, aromatic, and approachable, with complex layered fruit. This should be an up-and-coming variety.

Developed around 1912 by Monsieur Humbert of the Jura, France. One of its grand-parents may be the Hudson Valley Heritage variety Eumelan. The cluster is medium in size and loose, with medium sized blue-black berries. The variety is productive to very productive and of medium winter hardiness. It has good fungus disease resistance, except for powdery mildew. It ripens early-late to late season. Its wine is of a crimson color and is balanced for acids with a great tannin structure. It is integrated with a burnt raspberry nose, and cranberry/cherry flavors, black olives, cedar, and smoke that has some herbaceous overtones. This wine can age, with a medium-bodied flint middle and finish. Because of its tannin structure, it is a good blender to beef up lighter red wines.

Bred by Joannes Seyve of unknown parentage. The white/pink cluster is large and compact, with solid fungus disease resistance, which is moderately winter hardy and productive. The wine quality is very good either on its own or in a blend. This variety needs more time to be properly evaluated.

A chance seedling of unknown parentage found at Cedar Cliff Vineyards, in the Hudson Valley around the year 2000. It has an upright growth habit which indicates a substantial portion of its heritage is of vinifera origin. Its vine is of average to above average vigorousness and is productive. Its smallish black berries are on medium to large sized loose clusters. The variety is hardy to very winter hardy with solid to exceptional resistance to all fungus diseases, so much so that it thrives in our increasingly wet and hot summers. In the cellar, Pallmer shines. It has deep and dark crimson red colors, with aromas and fruit flavors of integrated light cooked prunes, black cherry, black raspberry, cooked mulberries, with a mahogany wood finish. This very aromatic wine has lots of the above cited fruits that integrates well with its big, but soft and meaty tannin structure, and has elements of violets, lavender, black pepper, and raspberry jam. It is a complex wine, which while bright, has the substance and flavor profile of a Malbec.

A white Seibel hybrid (S. 5658 x S. 4995) that was bred fairly late in Dr. Seibel’s career. It is moderately winter hardy with moderately loose clusters of white/pink berries that are of medium size. It ripens early, but can stay on the vine to attain very high sugar levels. It needs a solid spray program for fungus disease protection. It is best suited to cooler parts of the Hudson Valley and the Mohawk Valley. The wines are exceptional that is “very French” in its flavor profile with elements of white peaches, pears, and melons. It has a soft, creamy, and velvet finish This variety needs more time to be properly evaluated.

Bred by Bertille Seyve, Jr. (1895-1959), who lived south of Lyon, France. It may be a hybrid of Chancellor x Villard Blanc or Subereux bred after 1935. It is a parent of Corot Noir. This vigorous vine has a thick canopy and is good in the field with modest fungus disease resistance, is very winter hardy, and productive. Its semi-loose clusters help to reduce fungus disease pressure. This small-berried black grape ripens by mid-season and is a very reliable producer. The wines are deeply colored to inky, with a full rich body, great balance, and tannin structure. While a good blender to add substance to a lighter red blend, it has interesting and integrated flavors of cooked mulberries, blackberries, heavy plums, mint, coffee, and black pepper.