Frontenac

The red grape variety (also Minnesota 1047) is an interspecific new cross between Landot 4511 (Landot Noir) x Riparia 89. It contains genes from Vitis aestivalis, Vitis berlandieri, Vitis cinerea, Vitis labrusca, Vitis lincecumii, Vitis riparia, Vitis rupestris and Vitis vinifera. The hybrid was crossed by Peter Hemstad and James Luby in 1978 at the University of Minnesota. The latter had found the father variety at Jordan in Minnesota. Plant variety protection was granted in 1996. Two colour mutations are Frontenac Gris, discovered in 1992, and Frontenac Blanc, discovered in 2005. The medium to late ripening vine is generally resistant to vine diseases, but especially downy mildew, as well as extremely frost-hardy to minus 34 °Celsius. It produces red wines full of character with aromas of cassis, cherries and plums without foxtone. These are used for red and rosé wines, as well as fortified wines in the port style. The three varieties are grown in Canada and the USA. Frontenac in Canada (64 ha) and USA (148 ha) on 212 hectares, Frontenac Blanc in Canada (26) and USA (0.1 ha) on 26 hectares and Frontenac Gris in Canada (25) and USA (66 ha) on 92 hectares (Kym Anderson).

Frontenac - 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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Frontenac

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