Are Vidal grapes grown in California at all?

[Abe Froman]

Are Vidal grapes grown in California at all?

[Howie Hart]

Not to my knowledge, but if they are, it would be rare. Apparently some is grown in British Columbia.
http://wine.appellationamerica.com/grape-varietal/Vidal-Blanc.html
The only other hybrid I know of being grown West of the Rockies producing a commercial crop is Foch, grown in Oregon and perhaps Washington.

[TomHill]

Not to my knowledge, but if they are, it would be rare. Apparently some is grown in British Columbia.
http://wine.appellationamerica.com/grape-varietal/Vidal-Blanc.html
The only other hybrid I know of being grown West of the Rockies producing a commercial crop is Foch, grown in Oregon and perhaps Washington.

Howie,
I believe AdamLee produces a LeonMillot from OR grown grapes.
Tom

[Brian Gilp]

The reason Vidal was used on the East Coast is that it has thick skins which gives it good rot resistance and it's ability to reach high brix with decent acidity. These are not usually concerns in Cali, so throw in the low price per ton (or bottle) of Vidal and it really makes little sense for commercial growers. There is probably some there but it's most likely not a commercial vineyard or one that has been planted for a while and/or not in a well regarded viticultural area.

I expect that there will be less Vidal in the mid-Atlantic over the coming decades. Both Viognier and especially Petit Manseng seem to be preferred these days to Vidal.

[Dan Smothergill]

The reason Vidal was used on the East Coast is that it has thick skins which gives it good rot resistance and it's ability to reach high brix with decent acidity.

This is why it is a good ice wine grape and is likely to continue to be grown in New York and Ontario.

[Howie Hart]

This is why it is a good ice wine grape and is likely to continue to be grown in New York and Ontario.

Indeed! But, not only does it make a decent white during normal harvest (mid to late October in NY), but I've found that it has a great mouthfeel, while lacking in aromatics, so I often use it to blend and enhance other hybrids, like Cayuga.

[Peter May]

Are Vidal grapes grown in California at all?

Not according the the USDA vintage stats shown here http://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_ ... cbtb01.pdf - unless its under 'other whites'.

And look at the list of red varieties and see what California's fourth most harvested red wine grape variety is.

Unless you already know, you'll never guess what is in number 4 place

1 - Cabernet Sauvignon
2 - Zinfandel
3 - Merlot
4 - ?
5 - Pinot Noir
6 - Syrah

[Brian Gilp]

The reason Vidal was used on the East Coast is that it has thick skins which gives it good rot resistance and it's ability to reach high brix with decent acidity.

This is why it is a good ice wine grape and is likely to continue to be grown in New York and Ontario.

But that is also Petit Manseng and only recently has one been able to buy Petit Manseng vines commercially so before it was not an alternative to Vidal. I am fairly sure that Petit Manseng takes a longer growing season than Vidal so it may never replace Vidal in New York or Ontario.

[Brian Gilp]

And look at the list of red varieties and see what California's fourth most harvested red wine grape variety is.

While its listed as a wine grape, I am not sure that all of it grown is used in wine.

[Howie Hart]

I don't think Petit Manseng would work in NY or Ontario. The growing season is about the same as Vidal, but it doesn't have the winter hardiness:
http://www.doubleavineyards.com/p-758-petit-manseng-grafted.aspx
http://www.doubleavineyards.com/p-817-vidal-blanc-256.aspx

[Dale Williams]

And look at the list of red varieties and see what California's fourth most harvested red wine grape variety is.

While its listed as a wine grape, I am not sure that all of it grown is used in wine.

Yes, I think most is used for juice/concentrate (they separate wine, table, and raisin grapes, but didn't have a category for juice).

[Brian Gilp]

I don't think Petit Manseng would work in NY or Ontario. The growing season is about the same as Vidal, but it doesn't have the winter hardiness:
http://www.doubleavineyards.com/p-758-petit-manseng-grafted.aspx
http://www.doubleavineyards.com/p-817-vidal-blanc-256.aspx

Looking at the info at double A shows the same winter hardiness for Chardonnay as for Petit Manseng. I thought Chardonnay did O.K. up in the Finger Lakes but that could be a bad memory.

[Howie Hart]

I guess it could be grown, as there is some Chardonnay being successfully grown. That being said, Riesling has established itself as the go-to white vinefera up here.

[Joe Moryl]

I don't think Petit Manseng would work in NY or Ontario. The growing season is about the same as Vidal, but it doesn't have the winter hardiness:
http://www.doubleavineyards.com/p-758-petit-manseng-grafted.aspx
http://www.doubleavineyards.com/p-817-vidal-blanc-256.aspx

Howie,

Have a look at this photo from 2010, Hermann Wiemer's nursery in Dundee:

[Howie Hart]

Cool! Variety is the spice of life! I wonder how they're doing. Maybe they will have some to crush this year. Thanks, Joe.

[Joe Moryl]

Cool! Variety is the spice of life! I wonder how they're doing. Maybe they will have some to crush this year. Thanks, Joe.

I'm not sure Wiemer will plant any, it looked like they were for sale to other vineyards. There were also a number of Gruner Veltliner vines available. Maybe they will show up at somewhere like Sawmill Creek, on the other side of Seneca; they seem to try a bit of everything.