The white grape variety is an interspecific new variety between Seyval Blanc x Chardonnay. Synonyms are Geneva White, GW 09 and New York 45-010 and include genes from Vitis lincecumii, Vitis rupestris and Vitis vinifera. The hybrid was crossed in 1953 by the breeders John Einset, Bruce Reich and Robert Pool at the Vine Breeding Institute of Cornell University in Geneva (New York State). The late-maturing, high-yielding vine is resistant to frost down to minus 26 °Celsius, but moderately susceptible to both mildew and botrytis. It produces fruity, rather low-alcohol white wines with pronounced acidity, which are suitable for sparkling wine production. The variety is grown in many US states; these are Arkansas, Illinois (27 ha), Iowa (3 ha), Indiana (28), Kentucky (7 ha), Michigan, Missouri (77 ha), New York, North Carolina, Ohio (2 ha), Pennsylvania and West Virginia. In 2016, a total of 90 hectares of vineyards were designated (Kym Anderson).
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Diplom-Sommelier, Weinakademiker und Weinberater, Volders (Österreich)