The red grape variety originates from the USA. Synonyms are Black Ives, Bordo (Brazil), Grano d'Oro, Ives, Ives Madeira, Ives Seedling, Ives' Madeira Seedling and Kittredge (Australia). It is an open-pollinated seedling of the variety Hartford (Vitis labrusca), discovered in 1840 by a Henry Ives near Cincinnati in the state of Ohio. According to other sources, it was found in 1846 in West Hartford, the capital of Connecticut. It probably originated from a natural cross between Isabella x Labrusca, according to a second hypothesis between wild vines of the species Labrusca x Aestivalis. Ives himself claimed that the variety originated from a seed of a European vinifera called Madeira. So there are genes from Vitis labrusca and perhaps also from Vitis aestivalis and Vitis vinifera. It is possible that there is a relationship with Bordô, which is cultivated in Brazil. It was a crossing partner in the new Montefiore variety.
The medium-maturing vine is resistant to fungal diseases and is therefore suitable for cultivation in hot and humid regions. However, it is sensitive to water stress. It produces dark-coloured, extremely colourful red wines (called "Tooth-stainers" in America) with a distinctive foxy. After Prohibition (1920 to 1933), it was popular in sweet port-like wines, but was also used to produce grape juice. Today, the variety is grown in small quantities in the US states of Arkansas, New York and Pennsylvania. In 2016, no more stocks were reported; in 2010, there had still been 16 hectares (Kym Anderson statistics).
