Wine and Table Grape Cultivar Evaluation in Missouri

Wine and table grape vineyards were planted at Mountain Grove in 1985. Twenty-seven wine and 10 table grape cultivars were evaluated in respective 12 and 18 vine plots, replicated five times. Vineyard management practices were single curtain cordon training, dormant season balance pruning, protective spray program according to Missouri recommendations, grass sod row middles with preemergence herbicide applied underneath the trellis, and fertilization according to soil and petiole analysis. Cluster thinning and shoot positioning were done as needed. Productivity data was measured yearly and included: pruning weight, yield, cluster and berry weights, and juice °Brix, titratable acidity, and pH. Disease evaluation data was also taken on these cultivars. Based on these data and current market trends, two wine grape cultivar groups were identified: recommended, `Catawba', `Cayuga White', `Chambourcin', `Norton', `Seyval blanc', `Vidal blanc', and `Vignoles'; not recommended, `Aurore', `Baco noir', `Bellandais', `Chancellor', `Chelois', `Couderc noir', `DeChaunac', `Delaware', `Horizon', `LaCrosse', `Leon Millot', `Marechal Foch', `Melody', `Missouri Riesling', `Niagara', `Rayon d'Or', `Rougeon', `Ventura', `Villard noir', and `Vivant'. Three table grape cultivar groups were identified: recommended, `Mars' and `Reliance'; recommended for limited planting, `Canadice', `Vanessa', and `Vinered'; and not recommended, `Challenger', `Einset', `Festivee', `Himrod' and `Venus'. This information is used by growers to make cultivar decisions and also serves as a benchmark for comparing new grape germplasm coming into the state.