Cornell Releases Two New Grapes
Cornell University just released two new wine grapes; Arandell, a red, and Aromella, an aromatic, muscat white wine grape.
Dr. Bruce Reisch, professor in the Cornell University Department of Horticulture, developed the grapes with his team in Geneva, New York. (Dr. Reisch received his masters and doctorate at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.)
According to Anna Katherine Mansfield, assistant professor at Cornell, the Arandell hybrid, formerly NY 95, is a cross between two numbered Cornell varietals.
Aromella is a cross of Ravat 34 and Traminette, another Cornell varietal that is widely cultivated in the Midwest, according to Dr. Mansfield. (Dr. Mansfield received her doctorate from the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities and was the original Enology Project Leader there.)
Cornell reports that Arandell is a mid-season red wine grape characterized by a high degree of natural disease resistance, producing dark red wines with clean, berry aromas.
Arandell is moderately winter hardy. Tests of mid-winter primary bud hardiness indicate that 50% bud kill will occur at approximately -13 F. Limited trunk damage has been noted after winter lows of -15 to -16 F, but without crown gall disease.
Arandell is moderately hardy and recommended for production under minimal spray programs, with potential for organic management. Dr. Reisch hopes the new wine grape, with its superior resistance to downy and powdery mildews will appeal to growers interested in sustainable practices.
According to Dr. Mansfield, “Opening to the naming process for the new varietals to the public was phenomenal.” Cornell received hundreds of responses to the naming campaign and coverage from media outlets like NPR’s “Morning Edition” and Bon Appétit online.
For a humorous list of names that did not make the cut, including “Viampirat” and “Blue Puker,” see: Failed Cornell Grape Names
Double A Vineyards in Fredonia, N.Y., and Grafted Grapevine Nursery in Clifton Springs, N.Y., have vines of Arandell and Aromella available for sale.
For more information on licensing, contact Jessica Lyga at the Cornell Center for Technology Enterprise and Commercialization at JML73@cornell.edu or 607-255-0270.
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