Othello

The red grape variety is an interspecific new variety between Clinton x Black Hamburg (Schiava Grossa). Synonyms are Arnold 1, Arnold's Hybrid, Arnold's Hybrid 1, Canadian Hamburg, Canadian Hybrid, Fekete Othello, Fraga Neagra, Kék Othello, Mendoza, Otelo, Otelo Crno and Otello. Genes from Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia and Vitis vinifera are included. The hybrid was crossed in 1859 in Ontario/Canada by the private breeder Charles Arnold. The vine was mainly used for rootstocks; it was a crossing partner for the new varieties Folle Américaine, Gaillard 2 and Othello Solonis. It is particularly suitable for calcareous soils. The vine produces strong, acidic red wines. At the time of the phylloxera catastrophe, it was planted on a large scale in Europe, especially France, from the middle of the 19th century. In Austria it used to be used for Uhudler, but is now banned for wine production in the European Union (see under quality wine grape varieties). No stocks were reported in 2016 (Kym Anderson).

Othello - Weintraube und Blatt

Pictures: Ursula Brühl, Doris Schneider, Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI)

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Othello

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