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A Valentine to the Vignoles

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Traditional ‘Vignoles’ vines form tight clusters that are vulnerable to rapid disease damage, as seen here. (Photo by Dr. Lance Cadle-Davidson)
Traditional ‘Vignoles’ vines form tight clusters that are vulnerable to rapid disease damage, as seen here. (Photo by Dr. Lance Cadle-Davidson)

Valentine’s Day may not feel complete unless there are chocolates, flowers, a special meal, and a glass of wine. Yet one of the East and Midwest’s most beloved wine grapes continues to face the possibility of significant crop loss and declining quality due to Botrytis bunch rot and sour rot.  This agricultural challenge called the USDA-ARS Grape Genetics Research Unit (GGRU) to action, prompting the Geneva, NY, facility to take a closer look at how they could solve a burgeoning threat to one of New York’s signature grapes. 

Originally called Ravat 51, this French American hybrid produces moderate yields and develops small, compact clusters. In 1970, the Finger Lakes Wine Growers Association gave the aromatic white grape its now-familiar name of Vignoles. Since then, it has earned a loyal fan base due to its peach, apricot, and citrus notes. It’s also a popular choice for those who love white blends and can be enjoyed as a dry, sweet, or dessert wine. 

Vignoles’ production, however, has been limited at times due to its extremely compact clusters actually preventing complete fungicide coverage as the grapes ripen. The closely compacted berries then begin to rot and the infection spreads quickly throughout the harvest. 

“GGRU scientists hypothesized that “loose-clustered” clones of Vignoles could be developed through advanced breeding techniques and would significantly reduce the severity and the episodes of bunch and sour rot,” said GGRU Research Leader Gan-Yuan Zhong. 

The loose clustered ‘Vignoles2’ reduces bunch rot pressure by about 80%, delivering healthier fruit, higher juice yields, and better flavor. (Photo by Dr. Lance Cadle-Davidson)

To explore this hypothesis, GGRU researchers initiated advanced breeding techniques in 2007 to develop loose-clustered clones of the Vignoles. That started a 19-year journey of innovative science and research, in close collaboration with Cornell researchers, leading to the release of Vignoles 2, the best identified “loose-clustered” clone of Vignoles with significant reduction in bunch rot and reasonable reduction in cluster weight. 

In a published study, GGRU and Cornell collaborators planted and evaluated18 Vignoles selections that were cultivated at the USDA-ARS research farm on the Cornell Agri-Tech campus in Geneva, NY, and eight selections at the Cornell Lake Erie Research and Extension Laboratory in Portland, NY. Researchers compared the selections to the standard Vignoles and found one standout performer that showed about 80% reduction in bunch rot. A tasting panel noted only subtle differences between the loose-clustered and standard Vignoles, ultimately deciding that the loose cluster could be suitable as a wine grape cultivar. 

These results held consistently across three growing seasons, leading researchers to select R65V83, now named as Vignoles 2, for release to industry. So, the next time a Valentine’s Day dinner ends with a bright, aromatic glass of Vignoles, it’s worth remembering that its path to your dinner table is the result of careful research and a commitment to ensure that this beloved grape continues to thrive in the nation. 

This study was supported by funds from the USDA-ARS Grape Genetics Research Unit and the Cornell Federal Formula Funds Grants Program, administered by Cornell AgriTech.

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