Clinton (grape)

Clinton
Grape (Vitis)
Photographic plate of Clinton grape from the book The Grapes of New York, 1908 by Ulysses Prentiss Hedrick
SpeciesVitis riparia × Vitis labrusca
Also calledClinto (more)
OriginNew York, USA
Notable regionsAustria, Italy
VIVC number2711

Clinton is a red variety of hybrid grape. Its phylloxera resistance led to its being planted in small amounts in the eastern Alps, although it imparts a pronounced foxiness and dark red colour to wine made from its juice.[1]

History

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Clinton is a spontaneous cross between the North American species Vitis riparia and Vitis labrusca.[1] The first seedling was found in New York State by Hugh White in 1835.[2] After phylloxera arrived in Europe, it was planted in northern Italy, Switzerland[2] and Austria.

Distribution and wines

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It is grown in Brazil, France, and Italian Switzerland.[1] In Austria it is one of the hybrid grapes used in Uhudler wines. In France it is illegal to sell commercially.[3] In Italy it is known as Clinton, and is sometimes confused with the vitis x labruscana variety Isabella, known as "Fragola" (strawberry) in Italy. Ubriaco al Fragola Clinto is a Veneto cheese rubbed with the must of Fragola and Clinton.

Vine and viticulture

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It is a vigorous and early-maturing variety with small, black berries. It is very resistant to phylloxera.

Synonyms

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Bacchus Black (though unrelated to Bacchus,) Clinton Rose, Plant Des Carmes, Plant Pouzin, Red Ciliano,[4] Vorthington, Worthington, Zephirin,[5] Clinto, Fragola,[6] Erdbeerer (German translation of Fragola).

References

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  1. ^ a b c Robinson, Jancis (2006). The Oxford Companion to Wine, third edition. Oxford University Press. p. 183. 978-0198609902.
  2. ^ a b "Wein-Plus Glossar: Clinton".
  3. ^ Walking southern France: Ceze Archived 2011-10-20 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "Red Ciliano".
  5. ^ Maul, Erika; Töpfer, Reinhard; Eibach, Rudolf (2007). "Vitis International Variety Catalogue". Institute for Grapevine Breeding Geilweilerhof (IRZ), Siebeldingen, Germany. Retrieved 2007-08-29.
  6. ^ "Fragola".

Further reading

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