Commercially Significant Crosses and Hybrids

Question 1

Cross or Hybrid

Müller-Thurgau

Answer 1

Cross

Riesling x Madeleine Royale

Question 2

What other cultivars were created from Müller-Thurgau?

Answer 2

Bacchus

Ortega

Reichensteiner

Question 3

What are the viticultural characteristics of Müller-Thurgau?

Answer 3

High Yielding

Early Ripening

Thin Skins

Susceptible to Powdery Mildew, Downy Mildew, Grey Rot, Black Rot, and Rotbrenner

Question 4

What is the structure of Müller-Thurgau?

Answer 4

Low-Medium Acid

Question 5

Müller-Thurgau Profile

Cool Climate

Answer 5

Lightly Aromatic

Citrus Fruit

Hint of Muscat character

Low-Medium Acid

Question 6

Müller-Thurgau Profile

Moderate Climate

Answer 6

Peach

Low Acid

Flabby Mid-Palate

Question 7

Müller-Thurgau Synonyms

Answer 7

Rivaner (Austria, Luxembourg, Slovenia, and Germany)

Question 8

What grapes are Müller-Thurgau commonly blended with?

Answer 8

Riesling, Silvaner, and Kerner (Liebfraumilch from Germany)

Morio Muskat (aromatic medium whites)

Question 9

What are some positive attributes of Müller-Thurgau?

Answer 9

Early Ripening

High Yielding

Question 10

What are some negative attributes of Müller-Thurgau?

Answer 10

Wines can be dull and flabby if yields are not controlled

Large, thin skinned berries are prone to rot

Susceptible to disease

Question 11

What color cultivar is Müller-Thurgau?

Answer 11

White

Question 12

What is Madeleine Royale? What relationship does it have with other cultivars?

Answer 12

A table grape that was crossed with Riesling to produce Müller-Thurgau

Question 13

Cross or Hybrid

Ruby Cabernet

Answer 13

Cross

Carignan x Cabernet Sauvignon

Question 14

Who invented Müller-Thurgau? When? Where?

Answer 14

Hermann Muller

1882

Hochschule Geisenheim University

Question 15

Who invented Ruby Cabernet? When? Where?

Answer 15

Unknown Californians

1948

San Joaquin Valley, California

Question 16

What are the viticultural characteristics of Ruby Cabernet?

Answer 16

High Yielding

Poor Fruit Set

Susceptible to Powdery Mildew

Question 17

What is the structure of Ruby Cabernet?

Answer 17

Deep Color

Low Acid

Soft Tannins

Question 18

Ruby Cabernet Profile

Hot Climate

Answer 18

Cherry Fruit

Low Acid

Soft Tannins

Best examples show aromas similar to young Cabernet Sauvignon and the color of Carignan

Question 19

What types of wines are made with Ruby Cabernet?

Answer 19

Big blends where Ruby Cabernet plays a supporting role

Question 20

What grapes are Ruby Cabernet typically blended with?

Answer 20

Merlot

Cabernet Sauvignon

Lesser quality black varieties

Question 21

What are some positive attributes of Ruby Cabernet?

Answer 21

Withstands Hot Climates

Drought Resistant

High Yielding

Question 22

What are some negative attributes of Ruby Cabernet?

Answer 22

Poor Fruit Set

Susceptible to Powdery Mildew

Wines tend to be flat and lack structure

Question 23

What color cultivar is Ruby Cabernet?

Answer 23

Black

Question 24

Cross or Hybrid

Pinotage

Answer 24

Cross

Pinot Noir x Cinsault

Question 25

Who invented Pinotage? Where? When?

Answer 25

Unknown 1925 South Africa

Question 26

Pinotage Synonyms

Answer 26

Hermitage (South Africa)

Question 27

What are the viticultural characteristics of Pinotage?

Answer 27

Vigorous High Yielding Early-Mid Budding Early-Mid Ripening Susceptible to Downy Mildew, Powdery Mildew, and Grey Rot More climactically adaptable than Pinot

Question 28

What are the structural characteristics of Pinotage?

Answer 28

Medium(+) Acid High Tannins High Sugar Levels Thick Skins

Question 29

Pinotage Profile Hot Climate

Answer 29

Deep Color Black Fruit (Black Cherry, Plum, Bramble) Medicinal Smoky Earthy Medium(+) Acid High Tannins

Question 30

Pinotage Profile Oak Flavors

Answer 30

Toast Vanilla Smoky

Question 31

Pinotage Profile Under-ripe

Answer 31

Herbaceous

Question 32

Pinotage Profile Over-ripe

Answer 32

Jammy Baked Fruits

Question 33

The best Pinotage wines are made from grapes with what level of ripeness? What kinds of vines do they come from?

Answer 33

Fully mature grapes provide a wine with rich flavors that can be long lasting. Old, lower yielding vines provide superior grape quality.

Question 34

Why have Pinotage wines struggled on the international market?

Answer 34

These wines can often have notes of nail varnish remover or isoamyl acetate (banana/pear aroma compound) These aromas are believed to be caused by high water stress or high pre-harvest temperatures and may be exacerbated by high fermentation temperatures.

Question 35

What are some positive attributes of Pinotage?

Answer 35

Easy to cultivate Ripens and yields well High natural sugar with good acidity

Question 36

What are some negative attributes of Pinotage?

Answer 36

Reputation for isoamyl acetate smell despite winemaking improvements

Question 37

Cross or Hybrid Seyval Blanc

Answer 37

Hybrid V. vinifera x V. rupestris Seibel 5656 x Rayon d'Or

Question 38

What are the viticultural characteristics of Seyval Blanc?

Answer 38

High Yielding Early Ripening Winter Hardy Disease Resistant Susceptible to Grey Rot

Question 39

What is the structure of Seyval Blanc?

Answer 39

Medium Sugar High Acid

Question 40

Seyval Blanc Profile Cool Climate

Answer 40

Citrus Fruit (Grapefruit) White Fruit Light Body High Acid

Question 41

Seyval Blanc Profile Oak Flavors

Answer 41

Toast

Question 42

Seyval Blanc Profile Lees Flavors

Answer 42

Yogurt Cream

Question 43

What do some producers of Seyval Blanc do to improve the body and roundness of their wines?

Answer 43

Oak aging, which makes the wines fuller bodied and softer

Question 44

What are some positive attributes of Seyval Blanc?

Answer 44

High Yielding Early Ripening Disease resistance allows for organic viticulture in challenging conditions No foxy aromas that other hybrids can possess

Question 45

Cross or Hybrid Rondo

Answer 45

Hybrid V. vinifera x V. amurensis Sankt Laurent x Zarya Severa

Question 46

What are the viticultural characteristics of Rondo?

Answer 46

Very Early to Early Ripening Winter Hardiness Frost Resistant Disease Resistant

Question 47

What is the structure of Rondo?

Answer 47

Teinturier Deep Color High Acid Light Body

Question 48

Rondo Profile Cool Climate

Answer 48

Red Fruit Very Deep Color High Acid Light Body

Question 49

Rondo Profile Oak Flavors

Answer 49

Smoke Toast

Question 50

Rondo Profile Malolactic Fermentation

Answer 50

Creamy Notes can be pronounced, as with Tempranillo

Question 51

How is Rondo classified by the Bundessortenamt?

Answer 51

As V. vinifera

Question 52

What grapes are Pinotage commonly blended with?

Answer 52

None

Question 53

What grapes are Seyval Blanc commonly blended with?

Answer 53

None

Question 54

What grapes are Rondo commonly blended with?

Answer 54

Dornfelder Pinot Noir

Question 55

What are some positive attributres of Rondo?

Answer 55

No trace of non-vinifera parentage in the flavor profile Early Ripening Resistant to Frost and Disease May be used in the production of quality wines Produces deeply colored wines ideal for blending

Question 56

What are some negative attributes of Rondo?

Answer 56

Occasionally suffers from Powdery Mildew Can often ripen too early

Question 57

Cross or Hybrid Vidal

Answer 57

Hybrid V. vinifera x V. rupestris Trebbiano Toscano x Rayon d'Or

Question 58

Who invented Vidal? Where? When?

Answer 58

Jean Louis Vidal France 1930s

Question 59

What are the viticultual characteristics of Seyval Blanc?

Answer 59

Late Ripening Winter Hardy Resistant to Downy Mildew Prone to Powdery Mildew and Grey Rot

Question 60

What is the structure of Seyval Blanc?

Answer 60

High Acid Thick Skins

Question 61

Vidal Profile Cool Climate

Answer 61

Delicate Aromas Floral Red Currant Bush Light Body High Acid Dry to Luscious

Question 62

What types of wine is Vidal best known for?

Answer 62

Icewine, specifically those from Canada and Finger Lakes, NY, USA

Question 63

What grapes are Vidal commonly blended with?

Answer 63

Riesling (Canada)

Question 64

What are some positive attributes of Vidal?

Answer 64

Winter Hardy Frost Resistant Thick skin ideal for sweet, late harvest wines and icewine No obvious foxy character

Question 65

What are some negative attributes of Vidal?

Answer 65

Icewines usually lack the elegance of Riesling, to which the grape is often compared (They're still great, though!)