Grafted Hybrids

Widely grown in Galacia (northwest Spain) and Portugal (where it is known as Alvarinho), Albariño produces distinctive, aromatic, high quality wines, one of the few Spanish white varieties used to produce a varietal win...

First release from Dr. Bruce Reisch's "no spray" grape breeding program at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Geneva. High disease resistance and potential to produce red wines of good quality. Good resi...

Auxerrois is a full sibling of Chardonnay. Widely grown in the Alsace region of France where it produces a relatively low acid wine used for blending and as a varietal.

Grown primarily in the Piedmont, Barbera is the second most planted variety in Italy. It has a high level of natural acidity even when fully ripe, so is best suited for hot climates.

An old Bordeaux variety largely replaced by Merlot in France, but widely grown in Chile where vines planted as Merlot turned out to be Carmenère. Ripens later than Merlot but earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon.

Cayuga White is one of the most productive and disease resistant varieties grown in New York and was Cornell University's first variety released specifically for winemaking. This versatile grape can be made into a semi-d...

Concord is the most famous American grape, described by Horace Greeley as "the grape for the millions" with vigorous, hardy and productive vines that produce medium-sized clusters bearing large blue-black berries. Concor...

Dornfelder is considered to be the most successful red German vinifera cross with substantial plantings in the late 20th Century. The wine is notable for its depth of color, good acidity, attractive aromatics, and abili...

Gewürztraminer is a musqué mutation of Traminer that produces compact clusters of small, spicy, pinkish-red grapes with high natural sugar and low acidity, so is best suited for cooler climates. The best wines exhibit ...

Gruner Veltliner is the most planted grape variety in Austria and is widely grown in eastern Europe, but too late-ripening for more northern regions. Wines are typically finished dry and are peppery or spicy.

Rare, jet-black variety with loose, medium-sized clusters and berries. Can be used to make deep red wines, typically with strong foxy flavor and odor that can improve with time; still used in commercial juice production...

Considered a success story of modern German vine breeding, Kerner became widely planted in Germany in the 1990s. Typically used to make high quality wines similar to Riesling in many respects including high acidity, but...

Malbec was once popular in Bordeaux, but plantings have declined as it is susceptible to various viticultural hazards such as frost, coulure, and bunch rot. Known to require a milder climate than varieties such as Merlot...

Merlot is Bourdeaux's most planted grape variety, known for its smooth texture and outstanding varietal wines, but often blended with Cabernet Sauvignon. Earlier ripening than Cabernet Sauvignon, but not as winter hardy.

Mourvédre is Spain's second-leading red variety (after Grenache) and is also a popular variety in southern France, and has been grown in California since the 1870s. Mourvédre needs a very warm climate with long summers...

Muscat Ottonel is earlier ripening than other vinifera muscats and is the leading muscat in Alsace. Probably bred as a table grape, Muscat Ottonel has subdued muscat flavor and is used to produce dry table to late harve...

Noiret produces an excellent full-bodied, richly colored wine. The wines can resemble Shiraz (Syrah) with a distinct black pepper character, moderate tannins, and notes of raspberry, blackberry and mint. Vines are vigoro...

Norton (also known as Cynthiana) is a V. labruscana x V. aestivalis hybrid with a long history in eastern US wine production, particularly in Missouri and Virginia. Norton produces small to medium clusters of firm, ro...

Formally NY 81.0315.17, Aravelle is sold only as grafted vines as own-rooted vines are not sufficiently vigorous in most locations. Excellent wine quality potential with much less susceptibility to botrytis bunch rot ...

Petit Manseng is a high quality wine grape with small, thick-skinned berries that yield little juice but can hang well.

Petit Verdot is one of the classic black Bordeaux varieties. It is known for high quality where it can fully ripen, which is later than that of Cabernet Sauvignon.

Petite Sirah became popular in France for its resistance to downy mildew but has since fallen from favor there, it is currently being planted on an experimental basis in many locations in the US.

Pinot Gris is a lighter-skinned mutation of Pinot Noir that produces small, compact clusters of berries ranging in color from pink, to coppery-gray, to brownish-pink, even within the same cluster. Its low acidity makes t...

Pinot Noir is the classic red Burgundy cultivar, it ripens best under cool, dry conditions and is best suited for cool but moderate climates. Wines are lower in tannins and pigments than the other great French wine varie...

Regent is a relatively new German hybrid, mostly vinifera, with good fungal disease resistance. Regent wines can have intense color, high tannins, moderate acidity, and show aromas of cherry and black currant.

Riesling is the noble grape variety of Germany, one of the most hardy vinifera varieties best suited for cooler climates and highly susceptible to Botrytis infection. Riesling is made in a wide range of wine styles depen...

Sangiovese is the most planted grape variety in Italy, the principal variety for fine red wine in Tuscany, and the base wine for the production of Chianti. It is a late-ripening red that produces wines with pronounced t...

Sauvignon Blanc is responsible for some of the world's most distinctive dry white wines with a wide range of aromatics. It produces a wide range of wine styles from dry aromatic wines to desert wines in France, to ripe f...

Seyval Blanc is one of the most widely planted white hybrid varieties in cooler regions of the eastern US. Vines are typically overly fruitful and require some cluster thinning.

Shiraz is the Australian synonym for Syrah, an ancient, noble variety capable of producing outstanding wines with long aging potential. The wines have a wide range of flavor depending on the climate and soils where the g...

An important variety in Uruguay, Tannat produces deeply colored wines that are astringent and often blended with other varieties such as Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Tempranillo is one of Spain's most important varieties, it can produce wines that are deeply-colored and long-lasting, typically not high in alcohol content.

Traminette is a Gewürztraminer hybrid that produces excellent wines similar to Gewürztraminer but with much more winter hardiness than its parent. Wines are distinctive and spicy and may be finished dry or semi-dry.

Valvin Muscat produces a highly aromatic, high quality muscat wine with improved winter hardiness and disease resistance over its vinifera parent (Muscat Ottonel). Only sold as grafted vines as own-rooted vines typically...

Verdelet produces large, loose bunches with egg-shaped, whitish or grey-yellow to yellow-gold fruit. Verdelet is typically used to make a clear, delicate white wine.

Vidal Blanc is a productive white wine grape with medium-sized berries borne on very large, compact tapering clusters. Vidal can produce a semi-dry varietal wine and is often blended with other white hybrids. Fruit has...

Vignoles produces small, compact clusters highly susceptible to Botrytis bunch rot. Fruit can develop high sugar content while maintaining acidity, so Vignoles can be used to make late harvest desert wines in addition t...

Zinfandel is known as an exotic black variety predominantly grown in California and recently found to be identical to the Italian variety Primitivo. Typically made into varietal wines that can age well.

Zweigelt is widely grown in Austria where it was developed and is now the country's most popular dark-skinned grape. Zweigelt ripens earlier than Lemberger but buds out later than St. Laurent and tends to produce liberal...

A component of many Bordeaux blends, Cabernet Franc matures earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon and is more suitable for cooler climates. One of the more winter hardy vinifera varieties, it is becoming more popular in easte...

The standard of white wine grapes, Chardonnay can be used to make a wide range of wine styles from "fruit forward" wines fermented in stainless, to buttery wines fermented or finished with oak. Chardonnay is the primary ...

Blanc du Bois is a Pierce's disease tolerant cultivar with very good wine quality potential. Grown successfully where temperatures do not drop below +10F (USDA hardiness zone 8). Grown in coastal areas in the southeast U...

Not to be confused with cheese, Lemberger is used to produce low acid, varietal wines. It is gaining a reputation in the Finger Lakes region of NY as a variety with good wine potential and easier to grow than Pinot Noir.

Teroldego is a red vinifera originating in north east Italy that shares a parent, Dureza, with Syrah. Wines are described as dark and fruity with low tannins.

Whether sweet or dry, Malvasia Bianca offers delightful aromas and flavors of honey and ripe Bosc pears with hints of allspice. Round, lushly fruity flavors and a plush texture lead to a finish that is determined by the ...

Grown primarily in the cooler regions of the US with very early ripening and good winter hardiness, Aurore is a white to pink variety that is vigorous and ripens about a month before Concord. Aurore is often used as a bl...

Rkatsiteli is one of the most ancient varieties in the Republic of Georgia. With somewhat high acid, and spicy and floral notes Rkatsitelli is very useful for many wine styles.

Saperavi is a popular stand alone varietal making deep colored wines enjoyed young and aged and has been well received as a rosé as well. Originating in the the early 1950's in the Soviet Republic of Georgia, Saperavi ...

Black Spanish is an older variety that is tolerant to Pierce’s disease (it can carry the disease and thus be a source of infection if insect vectors are present with no reduction in yield, but Black Spanish vines sold ...

Portugal's version of Albariño which is widely grown in Galacia (northwest Spain). Alvarinho produces distinctive, aromatic, high quality wines. Grown in a humid, maritime climate, it has thick skin making it resistant ...

Cabernet Volos (Cabernet Sauvignon x 20-3) is one in a line up of mildew resistant VCR varieties that reduce the spray requirements while producing quality fruit and wine. With a similar flavor profile to its parent- Cab...

Fleurtai (Tocai Friulano x 20-3) is one of two of the mildew resistant VCR varieties that has shown 'excellent' resistance to both Downy and Powdery Mildew. Fleurai's golden-green colored berries produce a delightful, wh...

One of two red, wine varieties out of the mildew resistant VCR line up, Merlot Kanthus (Merlot x 20-3) maintains excellent wine quality resembling that of it's parent. Vines are adaptable to different trellis systems due...

Sauvignon Kretos (Sauvignon x 20-3) is one of two Sauvignon crosses in a line up of mildew resistant VCR varieties that reduce the spray requirements while producing quality fruit and wine. The golden hues of Sauvignon K...

Soreli (Tocai Friulano x 20-3) joins mildew resistant variety, Fleurtai of the VCR varieties with excellent resistance to both Downy and Powdery mildew. While Soreli can hold it's own in a bottle, Soreli and Fleurtai hav...

Sauvignon Rytos (Sauvignon x 20-3) is one of two Sauvignon crosses in a line up of mildew resistant VCR varieties that reduce the spray requirements while producing quality fruit and wine. Sauvignon Rytos makes an intens...

Villard Blanc produces a late-ripening white grape in large, loose, compound clusters and has good resistance to Pierce's disease. Produces an outstanding table grape, and is typically used for blending to produce more n...

This black grape is highly productive and is highly resistant to botrytis. The berries are medium sized and loose with oval shaped berries that have deep color.  Tasting notes bring a bold plum color and intense flav...

This white wine grape is one of the hardy eastern European hybrids that is cold hardy and has good disease resistance especially against downy mildew. The wine is aromatic with some sweetness (0.7 residual sugar) and ...

A German hybrid grape derived from Riesling and Chancellor. Geisenheim produces white wines that are slightly aromatic, floral, spicy.

Nebbiolo is native to the Piedmont region in northern Italy where it produces the region's most distinguished wines, and some of Italy's best, long-lived wines.

Chambourcin is a late ripening grape that can produce a highly rated red wine when fully mature. It requires a long growing season and at least 3000 GDD to fully mature. Vines tend to over-produce, so some cluster thinni...

Chardonel is a productive, late-ripening white wine grape with improved winter hardiness over its Chardonnay parent. Can produce an excellent white wine when fruit is mature. Like Chardonnay, wines can be fermented and a...

Cabernet Sauvignon is a vigorous, variety with late bud break and late maturity. It is one of the world's most widely renowned red wine varieties, grown in nearly every major wine producing country among a diverse spectr...