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Grape breeder Bruce Reisch standing in front of 'Rubiana' grapevines at the Station. Grape growers and wine makers pushed Cornell to officially name and release the red wine grape because it had proven to be so vigorous, productive, disease resistant, and winter hardy. CREDIT: J. Ogrodnick/NYSAES/Cornell

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 23, 2003

Contact: Linda McCandless, 315-787-2417

New Wine Grape from Cornell is Re-Named 'Rubiana'

By Linda McCandless

GENEVA, NY: The newest grape from Cornell University's internationally acclaimed fruit breeding program has been re-named 'Rubiana'. Grape breeder Bruce Reisch initially named and released the grape 'Abundance' during the Viticulture 2003 Conference in Buffalo, NY, in February, but was forced to resort to the grape's research appellation 'GR7' after a vineyard in California claimed ownership to the name. An initial search of the US Patents and Trademarks Office database had not uncovered the name.

A committee of industry representatives, including grape growers and wine makers, has been reviewing new suggestions since then. "There were no unanimous choices," said Reisch. "We took into consideration all of the input received. The decision was made by Thomas Henick-Kling, who is the professor of enology at the Station, and myself."

Grape growers and wine makers pushed Cornell to officially name and release the red wine grape because it had proven to be so vigorous, productive, disease resistant, and winter hardy. Dubbed "the working man's red," it is a solid performer for the grape growers and wine makers who have tested it.

Normally it takes 15 to 25 years to test and release a new grape variety. With 'Rubiana', it took longer than that for growers and researchers to discover just how productive and hardy it was. "Other red wine varieties were succumbing to disease but 'Rubiana' kept producing," explained Reisch, who is a professor of grape breeding and genetics.

In the intervening years, winemakers also discovered how to make better wines with the grape. "Because sales of red wine have soared in recent years due to reputed health benefits, winemakers need an easily produced red wine grape to meet increased demand. 'Rubiana' can help meet that demand," noted Reisch.

"This was a grape the industry strongly encouraged us to release," said Station director James E. Hunter. "It is a good example of the continuing relevance of the fruit breeding programs at the Geneva Experiment Station for New York State agriculture."

In its 125-year history, the Station has developed and released 243 different varieties of fruit for commercial and home garden use. Of those, 52 have been grapes. 'Rubiana' is the sixth wine grape, and takes its place next to five other Cornell wine grapes: 'Cayuga White', 'Chardonel', 'Traminette', 'Melody', and 'Horizon'. In 2006, the Experiment Station plans to release three more wine grapes: a white muscat and two red varietals.

Already in Commercial Use

'Rubiana' is already under cultivation in Finger Lakes vineyards and used commercially for wine, particularly in red wine blends.

" 'Rubiana' makes dark, soft (low tannin) red wines with a classical hybrid aroma," said Henick-Kling. He and Reisch set the goals for the wine grape breeding program at Geneva. "'Rubiana' has much improved viticulture and wine making characteristics over older red hybrid varieties. It makes a good quality wine with attractive cherry flavors."

" 'Rubiana' has good color and moderate acidity," said Steve DiFrancesco, the winemaker at Glenora Wine Cellars. "'Rubiana' is generally the first wine to complete malolactic fermentation, which we then use to inoculate our other red hybrids." Glenora has been using 'Rubiana' in its Classic and Bobsled reds for over eight years.

Wines made with the grape are also available from Wagner, Pleasant Valley, and Constellation Brands.

"Wine is a food to be enjoyed with other foods," said Jim Trezise, president of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation. "A variety like 'Rubiana' is the type of grape to make that happen because it is a reliable producer in the vineyard that makes a simple, friendly and affordable wine to accompany other good foods on the table. The increasing popularity of red wines due to widely reported health benefits from moderate consumption just adds to its importance."

'Rubiana' was formerly tested as GR 7 and NY 34791. It was selected from a cross of 'Buffalo' x 'Baco Noir', made in 1947, and tested extensively in the Experiment Station grape breeding program under Richard Wellington, John Einset, Willard Robinson, and Robert Pool. Grower-advisor Seaton "Zeke" Mendall helped popularize the grape among growers.

'Rubiana' is available for public use. For a license to propagate and distribute 'Rubiana, commercial nurseries should contact the Cornell Research Foundation at 607-257-1081. Vines are available to growers and homeowners through licensed nurseries.

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Links:

New Grape to be Renamed

Where to buy 'GR 7'

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