Clinton is a red variety of

hybrid grape Hybrid grapes are grape varieties that are the product of a Hybrid (biology), crossing of two or more ''Vitis'' species. This is in contrast to crossings between grape varieties of the same species, typically ''Vitis vinifera'', the European grape ...

. Its

phylloxera Grape phylloxera is an insect pest of grapevines worldwide, originally native to eastern North America. Grape phylloxera (''Daktulosphaira vitifoliae'' (Fitch 1855) belongs to the family Phylloxeridae, within the order Hemiptera, bugs); orig ...

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.

History

Clinton is a spontaneous cross between the North American species ''

Vitis riparia ''Vitis riparia'' Michx, with common names riverbank grape or frost grape, is a vine indigenous to North America. As a climbing or trailing vine, it is widely distributed across central and eastern Canada and the central and northeastern parts ...

'' and ''

Vitis labrusca ''Vitis labrusca'', the fox grape, is a species of grapevines belonging to the ''Vitis'' genus in the flowering plant family Vitaceae. The vines are native to eastern North America and are the source of many grape cultivars, including Catawba, ...

''. The first seedling was found in New York State by Hugh White in 1835. After phylloxera arrived in Europe, it was planted in northern Italy, Switzerland and Austria.

Distribution and wines

It is grown in Brazil, France, and Italian Switzerland. In Austria it is one of the hybrid grapes used in

Uhudler Uhudler is a wine from Südburgenland, Austria, (see Burgenland). In appearance it is often a Rosé, rosé colour, but is also made as a white wine. It has intense flavours of strawberry and black currants, a characteristic taste often called "foxy" ...

wines. In France it is illegal to sell commercially. 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

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

Synonyms

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

References

External links