We all come from somewhere, even when it comes to lineage and genealogy. The same is true for grapes. Grape breeding is the intentional cross-pollination of two different grape varietals, but wasn’t until the 1990’s that DNA fingerprinting of grapevines was fully developed at the University of California at Davis. DNA technology revealed that even some of the world’s classic grapes varietals - Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Chardonnay - have different parents. Cabernet Sauvignon is actually a ‘cross’ between Grapes From Another Mother By Kurt Wieneke Foch. Americans have had a big impact in grape breeding, as well. The Traminette grape, prevalent throughout the Midwest, was invented in 1965 at the University of Illinois in Champaign. Elmer Swenson from Wisconsin, is considered the pioneer of Midwest grape growing. His endless tinkering with grape hybrids was instrumental in convincing Midwest farmers to consider other crop options like reliably hardy, diseaseresistant, relatively lucrative, and in-demand grapes that would make decent wine. Due to the research and grower’s willingness to experiment with various crossbreeding techniques the wine business in the Midwest has grown and flourished. Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. It’s interesting that they used the names of both parents! Most parts of the Midwest, including Michigan, Indiana and Ohio, have cold winters and hot, humid summers. Most of the classic vitis vinifera varietals, such as Cabernet and Chardonnay, cannot grow in these conditions. Frigid winters can kill the vines and humid conditions can lead to disease, pests, or rot. This is why hybrid grapevines such as Chambourcin, Seyval Blanc, and Traminette were invented - to be more adaptable to the cold climate and humidity, so that the vines can produce fruit year after year. Grape breeding has been around a long time. Sometimes you hear about French hybrids, as some people in France were fairly prolific breeders in the late 1800s, developing grapes such as Chambourcin, De Chaunac, and Marechal
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