The white grape variety (also Melodie, New York 65-444-4) is an interspecific new breeding between Seyval Blanc x Geneva White 5 (Pinot Noir x Ontario). It contains genes from Vitis labrusca, Vitis lincecumii, Vitis rupestris and Vitis vinifera. The hybrid was crossed in 1965 by Bruce Reich and Robert Pool at the Vine Breeding Institute of Cornell University in Geneva (New York). The medium to late ripening vine is moderately resistant to frost, powdery mildew and botrytis. It produces fruity white wines with floral and herbal aromas. The variety is grown in the US states of Kansas, New York in the Cayuga Lake area and South Carolina. However, no populations were recorded in 2016 (Kym Anderson).
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Thomas Götz
Weinberater, Weinblogger und Journalist; Schwendi