Recommended Red Varieties for Cold Climates
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Recommended Red Varieties for Cold Climates
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| The overall performance of Cabernet Sauvignon in our tests is difficult to fault, but the variety essentially requires a longer growing season than is generally found in all but the most favored locations in New York. It has reasonable tolerance to all cold and disease stresses, but the buds do not fully mature in when fall ripening conditions are marginal. When fruit is fully mature, exceptional wines have been made. |
Recommended but only for those areas with a long growing season and on sites with excellent external and internal air drainage. Avoid rootstocks which produce large vines. |
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Vine and fruit is similar to Cabernet Sauvignon, but growth is more moderate, canes ripen earlier and are more winter hardy, approaching that of White Riesling in most years. Fruit ripens with or slightly before Cabernet Sauvignon. In France the variety is recommended for situations where Cabernet Sauvignon does not consistently mature. It appears that Cabernet franc is a desirable alternative to Cabernet Sauvignon in many New York situations. Because of its late ripening, it should be planted in the most favorable areas for fruit maturation. |
Recommended for areas with a long growing season. |
| Very compact clusters and thin skins ensures this clone will suffer botrytis bunch rot. Hence fruit must often be harvested before fully ripe. Winter hardiness and wine quality of this clone are good when fruit reaches maturity in sound condition. Vines seem to tolerate the common crown gall attacks on the trunks. Alternate training methods, summer pruning and leaf removal reduce bunch rot incidence. A mixture of clones is desirable for the most complex red Pinot noir wines. The addition of this or other members of the Pinot family can enrich and add depth to blended sparkling wine. |
Plant as one of a number of Pinot noir clones. Discontinue planting when better clones have been identified. |
