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The white grape variety (also Elmer Swenson) is an interspecific new variety between Minnesota 78 (Beta x Witt) x Ontario. It contains genes from Vitis aestivalis, Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia and Vitis vinifera. The hybrid was crossed in 1955 (?) by the breeder Elmer Swenson (1913-2004) in later collaboration with the University of Minnesota. Plant variety protection was granted in 1978. It was a crossing partner for the new varieties Espirit and Swenson White. The vine is frost-hardy to minus 26 °Celsius and has a relatively good general resistance to diseases such as both powdery mildews and botrytis. It yields white wines with a light foxy and is also used as table grape. The variety is grown in the Midwest of the USA in the states of Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota and Pennsylvania. In 2016, a total of 16 hectares of vineyards were designated in the USA (Kym Anderson).

Edelweiss - Weintraube und Blatt

Source: Wine Grapes / J. Robinson, J. Harding, J. Vouillamoz / Penguin Books Ltd. 2012
Images: Ursula Brühl, Doris Schneider, Julius Kühn-Institut(JKI)

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