The white grape variety (also known as Hybernal, GM 322-58) is a new variety between (Seibel 7053 = Chancellor x Riesling) x (Seibel 7053 x Riesling). It contains genes from Vitis labrusca, Vitis lincecumii, Vitis rupestris and Vitis vinifera. The hybrid was crossed in 1944 by Heinrich Birk (1898-1973) in Geisenheim (Rheingau). Plant variety protection was granted in 1977. The late-maturing, frost-hardy vine is resistant to various fungal diseases such as powdery and downy mildew and botrytis and is therefore considered a PIWI variety. It produces fresh, fruity white wines that can have a subtle foxy flavour. The variety is cultivated in Germany (3 ha), Moldova (19 ha), the Czech Republic (407 ha) and Canada (1 ha).
Pictures: Ursula Brühl, Doris Schneider, Julius Kühn Institute (JKI)
For my many years of work as an editor with a wine and culinary focus, I always like to inform myself about special questions at Wine lexicon. Spontaneous reading and following links often leads to exciting discoveries in the wide world of wine.
Dr. Christa Hanten
Fachjournalistin, Lektorin und Verkosterin, Wien