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Wines Made from Hybrid Grapes
This month, our World Wine Travel writers are exploring wines made from hybrid grapes. One might ask what is a hybrid grape? We’ll explore what hybrid grapes are, why they are increasingly important given a changing climate, and what they offer. And to answer the question of whether wines made from these grapes taste good?

(click on any photo in this post to see a full size slideshow)

Delicate Vitis Vinifera
Virtually every wine you enjoy today is made from grapes of the Vitis vinifera species. Like dog or cat breeds, there are are different varieties within the species, varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Chardonnay. While the wines can be great, the grapevines are real prima donnas. The climate can’t be too hot or too cold. Humid conditions bring fungal diseases which require diligent spraying of a wide variety of chemicals. Organic growers don’t use powerful synthetic chemicals, but they still spray with chemicals such as sulfur and copper. There are insects and mites such as phylloxera, nematodes, also requiring countermeasures. Grapegrowers have developed a variety of answers, but most require the use of chemicals which increasingly result in killing the beneficial microscopic life in the soil. No chemicals will help soften a Minnesota winter, Vitis vinifera will not survive here!

Crossing vs. Hybrid
Two Vitis viniferia grape varieties can be cross-bred to produce another, either by design or by chance. Did you know that Cabernet Sauvignon is the child of a Cabernet Franc x Sauvignon Blanc cross that happened in the wild? This is called a crossing.

There are other grape species which have more cold resistance, more disease resistance but they don’t make as nice a wine. Breeders perform a series of cross breedings between Vitis vinifera and other Vitis species to try to gain the combination of positive traits – good quality wine with more disease resistance or more cold temperature resistance, or both. The problem is that this can take years; the trail from a successful initial cross-breeding to new commercial grape vine can easily take twenty years!

The University of MInnesota has a long history of fruit development, best known for apples like the Honeycrisp. They are also among the leaders in hybrid grape development, though there are other organizations and even dedicated individual breeders around the world.

European grape breeders have focused more on disease resistance in their work, with Germany one of the leaders. They coined the name “pilzwiderstandfähig” for their hybrids with the much easier to remember and pronounce: PIWI.

Where Do They Grow Hybrid Grapes?
In the US, much of the focus of hybrid grape development and production is in the northern states, including both the upper midwest and New England. We have few Vitis vinifera opportunities, so hybrids are essentially the only choice for local grapegrowing.

In Europe, the situation is a bit different. Regions are working to reduce chemical inputs and improve vine health. The Champagne region has authorized the trial and limited usage of the Voltis hybrid grape. They are concerned about climate change affecting the character of Champagne based only on the current grape varieties in use.

Join the April World Wine Travel Writers
We’ll be publishing our posts via our blogs, Instagram, Facebook and other social media sites during the week of April 8 – 13. If you’d like to join us, simply comment on this post and we’ll be in touch!