Frontenac Gris and Geneva Red Grapes
Frontenac Gris, Geneva Red, La Crescent, and Itasca grapes are only some of the many wonderful grape varieties suited to home orchards.
Frontenac Gris Grape
This is a very popular wine grape, especially in Minnesota. It occurred as a bud sport of the original Frontenac. Very similar to the parent plant, this variety was released in 2003 by the University of Minnesota.
Hardy to zone 3, this is a very vigorous plant. Frontenac Gris is a French type grape that adapts to a range of soils. It does require good drainage.
The semi-trailing vines are very hardy—to -30 degrees F. This is recommended for zones three through eight.
The very productive vine with arching canes has some disease resistance to bunch rot and downy mildew, and has low to moderate susceptibility to black rot. Frontenac Gris can experience some foliar phylloxera and powdery mildew.
The fruits are borne in medium to large, loose clusters. These can vary from reddish-gray to coppery-peach, or gray with pale red. They ripen from mid to late season, usually in September, 2 to 3 days before Concord.
The top quality grapes have a rich aroma. These are great for eating fresh. When made into juice, this will be slightly more acid than most grape juices.
Geneva Red Grape
Released by Cornell University in 2003, Geneva Red grape is suited to zones 4 through 6, and is hardy to -25 to -30 degrees F. This is an especially good choice for both home gardens and commercial plantings in cold areas.
The moderately vigorous to very vigorous, semi-trailing plants are very disease resistant. Geneva Red grapes have been described as extremely productive.
These white, early ripening grapes are medium sized with a delicious taste. Forming medium sized clusters, these ripen to blue or black. They ripen mid season 2 to 3 days before Concord.
Geneva Red is mostly used for a delicious, aromatic wine.
Itasca Grape
Itasca grape was released by the University of Minnesota. Very hardy, it is suited to zones 4 through 8. The self pollinating plant is easy to grow. Its parentage includes Frontenac Gris.
Itasca grape is highly resistant to powdery and downy mildew and phylloxera. The golden grapes ripen mid season in September. These are very high in sugar and low in acid. They make a delicious wine.
La Crescent Grape
Released by the University of Minnesota, La Crescent grape was introduced in 2002. St. Pepin was one of the parents. Muscat Hamburg also is in its pedigree A very popular variety in northern states, this self pollinating, trailing vine is extremely vigorous. Very hardy, it is recommended for zones 3 through 8.
La Crescent grape shows some disease resistance, but it can experience black rot. Downy mildew can occur on the leaves.
These grapes can be white, golden, green-yellow, or golden brown. La Crescent grapes ripen early to mid season in late August to early September with Concord.
These grapes form long loose clusters. The fruits are highly recommended as a dessert grape and for wine. These make a delicious wine.
Frontenac Gris Grape
This is a very popular wine grape, especially in Minnesota. It occurred as a bud sport of the original Frontenac. Very similar to the parent plant, this variety was released in 2003 by the University of Minnesota.
Hardy to zone 3, this is a very vigorous plant. Frontenac Gris is a French type grape that adapts to a range of soils. It does require good drainage.
The semi-trailing vines are very hardy—to -30 degrees F. This is recommended for zones three through eight.
The very productive vine with arching canes has some disease resistance to bunch rot and downy mildew, and has low to moderate susceptibility to black rot. Frontenac Gris can experience some foliar phylloxera and powdery mildew.
The fruits are borne in medium to large, loose clusters. These can vary from reddish-gray to coppery-peach, or gray with pale red. They ripen from mid to late season, usually in September, 2 to 3 days before Concord.
The top quality grapes have a rich aroma. These are great for eating fresh. When made into juice, this will be slightly more acid than most grape juices.
Geneva Red Grape
Released by Cornell University in 2003, Geneva Red grape is suited to zones 4 through 6, and is hardy to -25 to -30 degrees F. This is an especially good choice for both home gardens and commercial plantings in cold areas.
The moderately vigorous to very vigorous, semi-trailing plants are very disease resistant. Geneva Red grapes have been described as extremely productive.
These white, early ripening grapes are medium sized with a delicious taste. Forming medium sized clusters, these ripen to blue or black. They ripen mid season 2 to 3 days before Concord.
Geneva Red is mostly used for a delicious, aromatic wine.
Itasca Grape
Itasca grape was released by the University of Minnesota. Very hardy, it is suited to zones 4 through 8. The self pollinating plant is easy to grow. Its parentage includes Frontenac Gris.
Itasca grape is highly resistant to powdery and downy mildew and phylloxera. The golden grapes ripen mid season in September. These are very high in sugar and low in acid. They make a delicious wine.
La Crescent Grape
Released by the University of Minnesota, La Crescent grape was introduced in 2002. St. Pepin was one of the parents. Muscat Hamburg also is in its pedigree A very popular variety in northern states, this self pollinating, trailing vine is extremely vigorous. Very hardy, it is recommended for zones 3 through 8.
La Crescent grape shows some disease resistance, but it can experience black rot. Downy mildew can occur on the leaves.
These grapes can be white, golden, green-yellow, or golden brown. La Crescent grapes ripen early to mid season in late August to early September with Concord.
These grapes form long loose clusters. The fruits are highly recommended as a dessert grape and for wine. These make a delicious wine.
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