Hi Kenton,

For me, hands down: Cayuga.

Ripens here in Mid Missouri, mid to late August. Good disease resistance
(it's the top of the list white when we started looking at growing
organically). High yields (6+ tons/acre).

We make a Cayuga wine that I personally put on scale with the nicer New
Zealand Sav. Blancs.

Vignoles is out if you're after disease resistance, but makes an unbeatable
wine, if you like tropical fruit! Vigourous vegegative growth compounds the
disease problem associated with the extremely tight cluster bombs. Can hit
very high sugars within regular growing season (26+ Brix).

Vidal is late season, neutral wine, med. disease resistance. Med producer.
Another high sugar grape.

Traminette can be like Gerwurtztraminer on steroids. Decent disease
resistance and yield. Mid season. Tends to develop serious bitter tannins
in our heat.

Seyval has produced one of Missouri's most recognized wines, but there's
only one producer here that makes a wine that I care for. I suspect that
most people are over ripening the grape. Early season. Medium producer.

Note that this is all from a winemaker's perspective.

clyde
http://www.PeacefulBend.com



On Mon, Jul 13, 2009 at 4:43 PM, KENTON ERWIN <kenton_erwin@...> wrote:

>
>
>
> May I please have your ideas for best white hybrid winegrapes for the
> Pacific Northwest? (Portland, Oregon). I want to minimize the heavy spraying
> required for vinifera.
>
> Requirements: High disease resistance; early to mid-season ripening; decent
> yields; good wine potential.
>
> Grapes on my list to consider (but what am I missing?): Cayuga, Seyval
> Blanc, Traminette, Vignoles, Vidal blanc.
>
> Thanks for any comments on those, and any other white hybrid winegrapes
> that are your favorites for wine. Some of these grapes are intended for
> places much colder than here, so I'm not sure how they'd perform here.
>
> My favorite vinifera white wine flavors: Riesling, Viognier, S. blanc,
> Gewurz. NOT Chardonnay.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Kenton Erwin
>
> Kenton Erwin Consulting, LLC
> Portland, OR
> Wine sales; cellar, vineyard, and collection consulting
> www.kentonwines.blogspot.com
>
> [
>


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