Summary

Cornell’s grape breeding program at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station (NYSAES) in Geneva dates to 1888 and focused initially on the development of flavorful and attractive dessert varieties with improved disease resistance, seedlessness, and cold hardiness. Cornell grape breeders have named and released 56 cultivars—nine for wine use and 47 for dessert and juice grapes. Additionally, NYSAES researchers import and test foreign wine varieties for their potential in New York. Many French-American hybrids first tested in Geneva grow on thousands of acres across New York and many other eastern states. Cornell’s best-known table grape varieties include Fredonia, Steuben, Himrod, Canadice, New York Muscat, Einset Seedless, and Marquis, while Cayuga White, Traminette, Chardonel, NoiretTM, and Corot noirTM are its most notable wine grapes. New York ranks third in the nation in grape production, with 37,000 acres of grapes, and a crop valued at $58.4 million in 2008.

The Issue

Cornell grape breeders continue to integrate traditional breeding techniques with more advanced molecular methods to genetically improve grapes. The current program focuses on the production of varieties that promise to be economically profitable and have a reduced environmental footprint. Genes controlling traits of importance are being identified, and a special effort is being made to develop new grape varieties suitable for organic production methods, requiring little or no application of fungicides or insecticides. In addition, cooperative efforts continue with Cornell enologists to ensure that newly developed hybrid grapes are not only easy to grow, but also produce wines of high quality.

Impacts

Wine Grapes

New varieties of grapes have an important impact upon the success of New York’s wine industry. They help increase wine quality, decrease the cost of grape growing, reduce pesticide dependence, and maintain productivity following severe winters, which results in greater profitability. Cayuga White, released in 1972 as the first wine grape bred from the Cornell program, now accounts for more than $20 million of wine production in New York annually. New Cornell grape varieties are in strong demand: Traminette, Noiret, Corot noir, and Valvin MuscatTM grapes sold for $1,033, $692, $628, and $733 per ton, respectively, in the Finger Lakes region in 2008. By comparison, Finger Lakes growers were paid $302 per ton for Concord.

Cayuga White

Since its 1972 introduction, Cayuga White has grown greatly in popularity. It is highly versatile, with the ability to make a range of wine types from dry to sweet, blends to varietals, and sparkling wines, too. In 2006, Cayuga White ranked ninth in production in New York, with 2,068 tons of grapes produced on 404 acres. Its average price was $622 per ton in 2008.

Selected Awards:

• 2004: Los Angeles Wines of the World – 2003 Cayuga White – Swedish Hill Winery – Best of Class
• 2005: Long Beach Grand Cru – 2004 Cayuga White – Swedish Hill Winery – Chairman’s Best of Class
• 2006: New York Wine & Food Classic – 2005 Cayuga White – Cayuga Ridge Estate Winery – Silver Medal
• 2006: Indy International Wine Competition – 2005 Cayuga – Hosmer Winery – Gold Medal
• 2008: Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition – 2007 Cayuga White – Swedish Hill Winery – Best of Class

Traminette

Released from Geneva in 1996, this variety makes wines that are similar in aroma to its parent, Gewürztraminer. Yet the vine survives winters better than its parent and is far more disease-resistant, as well. In New York, there were 65 acres of Traminette in 2006, and the variety also thrives in Ohio. In 2008, its average price was $1,003 per ton in New York.

Selected Awards:

• 2001: Long Beach Grand Cru – 2001 Traminette – Goose Watch Winery – Chairman’s Best of Class
• 2006: Tasters Guild International – 2003 Traminette – Torrey Ridge Winery – Gold Medal
• 2007: Los Angeles International – 2005 Traminette – Goose Watch Winery – Best of Class
• 2008: Jerry Mead’s New World International Wine Competition – 2006 Traminette – Goose Watch Winery - Best of Class
• 2008: New York Wine & Food Classic – 2007 Traminette – Whitecliff Vineyards – Double Gold Medal
• 2009: Best of Appellation Awards – 2007 Classic Traminette – Arbor Hill Grapery – Gold Medal; NV Traminette – Liberty Vineyards – Double Gold Medal
• 2009: San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition – 2007 Traminette – Goose Watch Winery – Gold Medal

Chardonel

Although it was developed at Cornell, Chardonel was originally named because of its excellent performance in Arkansas and Michigan, and has gained commercial acceptance in both states. It is easier to grow there than its Chardonnay parent, but has limited impact in New York due to the shortened growing season. The variety has also seen success in Missouri, where it ranked second in area planted behind Cynthiana in 2001, and in Illlinois, with 85 acres in 2007.

Noiret™

In 2006, Cornell released both Noiret and Corot noir for industry use as the program’s first two red wine grapes to be recommended for quality wine production. Noiret, a richly pigmented red wine with notes of fruit, black pepper, and green pepper, is highly vigorous and can be productive when grown properly. In its first year of release, there were already 39 acres, with a production of 70 tons, though some acreage was too young to bear fruit. In 2008, it sold for $692 per ton in New York.

Corot noir™

Corot noir has attracted substantial interest in New York and other eastern states. It is an easy-to-grow hybrid, with better red wine potential than most of the earlier red French-American hybrids. In 2006, there were already 59 acres, with a production of 226 tons, though some acreage was too young to bear fruit. In 2008, it sold for $628 per ton in New York.

Selected Awards:

• 2008: New York Wine & Food Classic – NV Corot noir – Deer Run Winery – Bronze Medal
• 2008: Los Angeles International and Long Beach Grand Cru – Maroon Four (a blend of Corot noir and Noiret) – Penguin Bay Winery – Gold Medals

Table Grapes

Cornell’s table grape breeding program is enhanced by a newly established public-private cooperative table grape breeding effort with Sun World International LLC, of Bakersfield, Calif. Table grape breeding stocks developed independently in both programs will be shared for mutual benefit. The New York program will send to California material with good disease resistance that ripens early with sweet and unique flavors. In return, it will receive large-berried, seedless table grape stocks with firm texture and excellent storage qualities. The results of this program are expected to have an impact on the table grape industry worldwide.

Cornell table grape varieties have contributed to the development of small enterprises that market fruit locally. Many seedless varieties can be found in pick-your-own farm operations, and some are grown on several acres across the state and either sold on local farm stands or in nearby supermarkets. The Cornell – Sun World program may result in further expansion of the eastern table grape industry.

Many Cornell seedless grape varieties, such as Himrod, Lakemont, Marquis, and Canadice, are cultivated by homeowners in New York and other eastern states. They are prized for their very sweet and flavorful fruit. Thousands of seedless grapevines have been sold by New York nurseries as well as those in other states.

The Marquis variety is an excellent example of the types of high quality seedless grapes that have been developed at Cornell University. Marquis resulted from a cross made in 1964 between an older Cornell variety, Athens, and the Emerald Seedless grape from California. The very large clusters bear large round berries of exceptional, sweet flavor. Cooperative trials in the 1980s and early ’90s with the Lawrence Farm of Newburgh, N.Y., identified the potential of this selection for success in pick-your-own operations. The variety was patented and officially named in 1996.

Download PDF Version (4 MB)

Contact

Bruce Reisch, Ph.D.
Department of Horticultural Sciences
New York State Agricultural Experiment Station
630 W. North Street
Geneva, NY 14456
Phone: 315-787-2239
Email: bir1@nysaes.cornell.edu
www.nysaes.cornell.edu/hort/faculty/reisch/grapeinfo.html

Alan Paau, Ph.D.
Executive Director & Vice Provost for Technology Transfer & Economic Development
Cornell Center for Technology Enterprise and Commercialization
East Hill Office Building, Room 310
Ithaca, NY 14850
Phone: 607-254-2378
Email: ap364@cornell.edu
www.cctec.cornell.edu