The red grape variety is an interspecific new variety between wild vines of the species Vitis riparia x Vitis labrusca. Synonyms are Blue Tart, Blue Vine Grape and Oporto. The hybrid was crossed in 1867 in the USA by the private breeder E. W. Sylvester. The vine is used as a wine grape and rootstock. However, no stocks were reported in 2016 (Kym Anderson statistics).
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