Our Vineyard is planted with a combination of vinifera and hybrids.
Petit Verdot
One of the traditional classic black grape varieties approved for blending in Bordeaux, contribution this grape adds to wine is dense fruit, dark color, powerful flavors, and heavy tannins. In Virginia it is being used as a single varietal wine. Usually late-ripening, the vines tend to be quite vigorous at producing vegetation, yet inconsistent at producing fruit, and seem to be more sensitive to vintage conditions than other varieties. Planted in suitable climates and properly cultivated, the fruit develops in relatively small winged clusters, loosely filled with round, dark red-to-black, relatively thick-skinned, berries. Often with Petit Verdot, one will find aromas of smoke, tobacco/cigar, leather, and earth tone characteristics. Also, PV can have hints of violet, leather, black pepper and other spices, and sometimes blueberry or blackberry.
Clone 400/101-14 90%
FPS 02/101-14 10%
Vidal Blanc
White hybrid grape variety developed in the 1930s by French wine grape breeder Jean Louis Vidal; produced from the Vitis vinifera variety Ugni blanc (also known as Trebbiano Toscano) and another hybrid variety, Rayon d’Or (Seibel 4986). It is a very winter-hardy variety that manages to produce high sugar levels in cold climates with moderate to high acidity. The wine produced from Vidal Blanc tends to be very fruity, with aroma notes of grapefruit and pineapple. Due to its high acidity and sugar potential it is particularly suited to sweeter, dessert wines. In particular, because of the tough outer skin of the fruit, it is well adapted for the production of ice wine. It is somewhat resistant to downy mildew but is very susceptible to other viticultural hazards such as coulure and powdery mildew.
Vidal Blanc grafted on 3309 100%
Chardonel
Chardonel origin was the result of a cross between, ‘Seyval’ x ‘Chardonnay’, made in 1953. It is a late ripening white wine grape which can produce a high quality wine with varietal character. It is distinguished by its superior wine quality combined with high productivity and cold hardiness superior to its acclaimed parent, ‘Chardonnay’. The vines are moderately winter hardy at Geneva but trunk injury is occasionally a problem. However, it is considerably hardier than ‘Chardonnay’ and nearly as winter hardy as its ‘Seyval’ parent. Clusters are shouldered and medium-large (0.44 lbs.), averaging 1.6 clusters per shoot. The amber berries are medium sized and spherical.
Chardonel grafted on 3309 100%
Chambourcin
Chambourcin is a purple-skinned, French-American hybrid grape that is more readily available in the United States and Australia than in its homeland, France. It is one of the world’s most popular hybrid varieties, and is noted for its distinctive dark coloring and herbaceous aroma. Chambourcin wines are often have violet floral notes, spicy with clove, black cherry and plum flavors, and a range of herbal characters and tobacco.
Chambourcin grafted on 101-14 100%
Petite Pearl
This new red wine variety is from Seedling from a 1996 cross of MN 1094 x E.S. 4-7-26 was bred by the esteemed Minnesota viticulturist and author, Tom Plocher. Considered fully hardy, producing a full crop after -32F. Vigor is moderate with an open trailing growth habit suitable to high wire training. Ripens to around 24 brix and 7-8 g/l acidity. Berry 2g; cluster 85-140g (Ave 96g), compact, very dense cluster with large shoulder; resembles the Portuguese variety, Touriga Nacional in appearance. Thick skins, resistant to splitting; good mildew resistance and good resistance to rot and neat moderate growth habit, few laterals, and low maintenance. Abundant soft tannins and excellent balance of tannins and total polyphenols. Wine is garnet red; quite complex, with typical hints of clove, star anise, celery seed, mocha, and wild mushrooms. Excellent fullness and tannin structure in the mouth and finish; excellent balance of acid, tannin and alcohol; no native or hybrid flavors in the wine.
Petite Pearl is self-rooted / not grafted