The red grape variety is an interspecific new variety between Champion (Concord x Hartford) x Lucile (Wyoming O.P.). Synonyms are Black Niagara, Early Concord, Gladwin 15 and Island Belle. Genes from Vitis labrusca and Vitis vinifera are included. The hybrid was crossed in 1915 by the breeder Fred E. Gladwin at the Vine Breeding Institute of Cornell University in Geneva, New York State. It was a crossing partner in the new varieties Bluestar, Monticello, Suffolk Red, Valiant and Van Buren. It is an all-female grape variety. The early-maturing vine is resistant to frost, but susceptible to fungal diseases anthracnose, black spot disease and downy mildew. It yields rose-coloured wines with foxtone, but is mainly used as table grape and for the production of jelly and grape juice. The variety is grown in the US states of Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania. In 2016, a total of 28 hectares of vineyards were designated in the USA (Kym Anderson statistics).
Pictures: Ursula Brühl, Doris Schneider, Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI)
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