Vitis vinifera varieties for New York - white wine varieties recommended for trial only

Other White Wine Varieties Tested

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Bacchus The variety is relatively sensitive to phomopsis cane and leaf spot, downy and powdery mildews. Berries are reported to be easily sun-burned and botrytis sensitivity often dictates early harvest of the fruit. Although Bacchus appears to be generally well adapted to New York conditions, it does not offer unique advantages which will recommend it to the grower without reservation. Plant only for trial purposes in commercial vineyards.

Comtessa An early season variety with good vigor and cold tolerance. It has good tolerance to botrytis infection, but is only moderately fruitful. When fully ripe produces a pleasant, fruity wine of good acid structure. Wines did not receive good ratings in years of inferior maturation. Limited commercial testing is justified

Ehrenfelser Vines have had some crown gall and botrytis bunch rot is frequent. Weak growth and appearance on C. 3309 rootstock suggests questionable virus status. Full bodied and fruity, pleasant wines are generally produced. In Europe, this has been one of the more successful new introductions. There are suggestions that the variety is slow to become established, but our experience does not support a recommendation for any except experimental planting.

Furmint Very susceptible to botrytis bunch rot; excessive vigor is associated with very poor set. Late vegetative maturity leads to poor bud and wood maturation with subsequent winter injury. Not recommended

Metternich
Very susceptible to downy mildew, good resistance to botrytis bunch rot. It is a productive vine, but is too winter tender and matures too late for Geneva. Not recommended

Morio Muscat
Vines produce good crops with a pronounced muscat flavor. However, the berries are very thin skinned and prone to cracking. This causes considerable fruit spoilage. Literature suggests that clusters should be cylindrical rather than conic in shape. Vine does not appear to be as well adapted to New York growing conditions as is the alternate muscat flavored variety, Muscat Ottonel. Recommended for commercial trial when muscat flavor is desired.

Muscat Ottonel
A productive variety which performs well in most years. Short seasons or exceptionally cold winters will result in cold injury. Has good botrytis bunch rot resistance. Fruit develops a full muscat flavor. Plant whenever muscat flavored wine is required.

Noblessa
Botrytis and crown gall have occurred, but are not great problems. The primary problem with the variety is its low vigor. At standard spacing the vines do not fill the trellis and are unproductive. Closer in-the-row spacing is indicated. Wine evaluations indicate superior quality. Worthy of commercial trial.

Optima
High vigor and late growth results in poor wood and bud maturation and related low winter hardiness. This limits potential for cold growing regions, but extreme botrytis susceptablility combined with rapid fruit deterioration is a greater limit to the variety's usefullness to New York grape growers. Not recommended



Ortega
A mid-season White Riesling-type with large vine size and only moderate cold hardiness. The fruit is very susceptible to botrytis infection forcing early harvest and limiting the usefulness of the variety. Not recommended



Perle
Low vigor and winter hardiness limit usefullness of variety, but degree of botrytis and subsequent bunch rot infection more seriously limit the variety. Not recommended



Reichensteiner
Variety is too botrytis susceptible and winter tender for culture at Geneva. Not recommended

Rieslaner
Vine has good resistance to bunch rot, moderate vigor and fruitfullness; it appears worthy of commercial trial. Worthy of commercial trial.

Sauvignon blanc
Fruit is very susceptible to botrytis. Vine is prone to extended period of growth, late cane maturity and poor winter survival of trunks and buds. Wood is very intolerant of shade. Wine quality is often superior. Vines should be planted in sites with a long, warm growing season and which do not induce vigorous growth. Our results do not warrant a recommendation to grow this variety commercially, but commercial wines of exceptional quality have been produced. Planting on sites which restrict vine size and which have a long growing season, use of arestrictive rootstock may yield better results.

Scheurebe
Similar to White Riesling in many ways, but it is not as cold hardy. In some years botrytis infection requires that fruit be harvested before fruit is fully mature. Only plant on a limited trial basis.

Siegerrebe
This variety ripens its fruit very early. Fruit is slightly susceptible to botrytis infection. Because of season of ripening, bird depredation is serious. Vines are fruitful and vigor is low. In row vine spacing should be reduced. Fruit has distinct flavor reminiscent of Gewurztraminer. Worthy of trial in regions with shorter growing seasons. Closer vine spacing would help production. Avoid planting near bird habitats.

Sylvaner
A heavy cropper with moderate sensitivity to bunch rot and crown gall. Wood does not mature well giving only moderate winter hardiness at best Not recommended

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Bacchus	The variety is relatively sensitive to phomopsis cane and leaf spot, downy and powdery mildews. Berries are reported to be easily sun-burned and botrytis sensitivity often dictates early harvest of the fruit. Although Bacchus appears to be generally well adapted to New York conditions, it does not offer unique advantages which will recommend it to the grower without reservation.	Plant only for trial purposes in commercial vineyards.
Comtessa	An early season variety with good vigor and cold tolerance. It has good tolerance to botrytis infection, but is only moderately fruitful. When fully ripe produces a pleasant, fruity wine of good acid structure. Wines did not receive good ratings in years of inferior maturation.	Limited commercial testing is justified
Ehrenfelser	Vines have had some crown gall and botrytis bunch rot is frequent. Weak growth and appearance on C. 3309 rootstock suggests questionable virus status. Full bodied and fruity, pleasant wines are generally produced. In Europe, this has been one of the more successful new introductions.	There are suggestions that the variety is slow to become established, but our experience does not support a recommendation for any except experimental planting.
Furmint	Very susceptible to botrytis bunch rot; excessive vigor is associated with very poor set. Late vegetative maturity leads to poor bud and wood maturation with subsequent winter injury.	Not recommended
Metternich	Very susceptible to downy mildew, good resistance to botrytis bunch rot. It is a productive vine, but is too winter tender and matures too late for Geneva.	Not recommended
Morio Muscat	Vines produce good crops with a pronounced muscat flavor. However, the berries are very thin skinned and prone to cracking. This causes considerable fruit spoilage. Literature suggests that clusters should be cylindrical rather than conic in shape. Vine does not appear to be as well adapted to New York growing conditions as is the alternate muscat flavored variety, Muscat Ottonel.	Recommended for commercial trial when muscat flavor is desired.
Muscat Ottonel	A productive variety which performs well in most years. Short seasons or exceptionally cold winters will result in cold injury. Has good botrytis bunch rot resistance. Fruit develops a full muscat flavor.	Plant whenever muscat flavored wine is required.
Noblessa	Botrytis and crown gall have occurred, but are not great problems. The primary problem with the variety is its low vigor. At standard spacing the vines do not fill the trellis and are unproductive. Closer in-the-row spacing is indicated. Wine evaluations indicate superior quality.	Worthy of commercial trial.
Optima	High vigor and late growth results in poor wood and bud maturation and related low winter hardiness. This limits potential for cold growing regions, but extreme botrytis susceptablility combined with rapid fruit deterioration is a greater limit to the variety's usefullness to New York grape growers.	Not recommended
Ortega	A mid-season White Riesling-type with large vine size and only moderate cold hardiness. The fruit is very susceptible to botrytis infection forcing early harvest and limiting the usefulness of the variety.	Not recommended
Perle	Low vigor and winter hardiness limit usefullness of variety, but degree of botrytis and subsequent bunch rot infection more seriously limit the variety.	Not recommended
Reichensteiner	Variety is too botrytis susceptible and winter tender for culture at Geneva.	Not recommended
Rieslaner	Vine has good resistance to bunch rot, moderate vigor and fruitfullness; it appears worthy of commercial trial.	Worthy of commercial trial.
Sauvignon blanc	Fruit is very susceptible to botrytis. Vine is prone to extended period of growth, late cane maturity and poor winter survival of trunks and buds. Wood is very intolerant of shade. Wine quality is often superior. Vines should be planted in sites with a long, warm growing season and which do not induce vigorous growth.	Our results do not warrant a recommendation to grow this variety commercially, but commercial wines of exceptional quality have been produced. Planting on sites which restrict vine size and which have a long growing season, use of arestrictive rootstock may yield better results.
Scheurebe	Similar to White Riesling in many ways, but it is not as cold hardy. In some years botrytis infection requires that fruit be harvested before fruit is fully mature.	Only plant on a limited trial basis.
Siegerrebe	This variety ripens its fruit very early. Fruit is slightly susceptible to botrytis infection. Because of season of ripening, bird depredation is serious. Vines are fruitful and vigor is low. In row vine spacing should be reduced. Fruit has distinct flavor reminiscent of Gewurztraminer.	Worthy of trial in regions with shorter growing seasons. Closer vine spacing would help production. Avoid planting near bird habitats.
Sylvaner	A heavy cropper with moderate sensitivity to bunch rot and crown gall. Wood does not mature well giving only moderate winter hardiness at best	Not recommended