The red grape variety is a new cross between Dodrelyabi (Kharistvala Kolkhuri) x Muscat d'Hamburg. According to DNA analyses carried out in 2018, the parentage Bellone x Lady Downe's Seedling given in the breeding list turned out to be wrong. Synonyms are Afrikai Szoeloe, Alfons, Alfons Lavale, Almeria Negra, Alphonso Lavallée, Alphonse Lavallée Crni, Ansley's Large Oval, Black Marocco, Black Muscadel, Blue Damascene, Cespljevna, Entes, Gros Guillaume, Pennington Hall Hamburgh, Persia, Prince Royal Albert, Raisin d'Afrique, Raisin du Jerusalem, Ribier, Royal, Slivovyi and Slyovy. The cross was made around 1860 in Orléans (France) by an unknown nurseryman. It was named after Alphonse Lavallée (1791-1873), president of the "Société d'Horticulture de France". The variety was a crossing partner of the new varieties Alden, Attika Seedless, Cardinal, Carla, Delhro, Lival, Muscat de Bugeac, Osennii Ciornai and Ribol. The table grape Leopold III is a mutation.
The medium to late ripening, high-yielding vine is susceptible to fungal diseases such as powdery and downy mildew as well as botrytis, tends to coulure and is sensitive to frost. It is mainly used as table grape, as well as for the production of sultanas. In total, it occupies about 10,000 hectares of vineyards worldwide, mainly as table grape in the countries Argentina, Australia, Belgium (in greenhouses), Chile, India, Canada, South Africa and Turkey. The following countries, however, probably only refer to the stocks as wine grape. These are France (606 ha), Peru (18 ha), Switzerland (0.1 ha) and Spain (10 ha). In 2016, a total of 634 hectares of vines were reported (Kym Anderson).
Pictures: Ursula Brühl, Doris Schneider, Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI)
