Catawba

The red grape variety originates from the USA; it is named after the river of the same name in North Carolina or the Sioux Indian tribe. Synonyms include Arkansas, Catalan, Catalan Rojo, Catalan Roxo, Catawba Rosa, Cher Kee, Cherokee, Fanches, Francher, Francher Kello White, Francher Kells White, Lebanon, Lebanon Seedling, Lichigan, Lincoln, Mammoth Catawba, Meads Seedling, Mecleron, Merceron, Michigan, Muncy, Muncy Pale Red, Munipale Red, Omega, Red Muncy, Rose of Tennessee, Rote Captraube, Saratoga, Singleton, Tekomah, Tokay, and Virginia Amber. Alongside Concord, Norton, and Scuppernong, it is one of the most important American vines.

Origin

The botanist Liberty Hyde Bailey (1858-1954) referred to the Catawba grape as "the first great American grape." The origin of the variety was long unclear, and there were several partly contradictory assumptions. The parentage was only determined in 2016 at the Julius Kühn Institute (Geilweilerhof) through DNA. The variety originates from a crossing between a wild Vitis labrusca (which has always been suspected as a parent) x Sémillon. It may also be a deliberately induced crossing or new breeding. Furthermore, it turned out that Catawba is a parent of the famous Concord. Catawba was also a crossing partner of the new breeding Woodruff. The varieties Catawba White, Diana (3), and To Kalon are open pollinated seedlings.