John Vielvoye
Frontenac Grapes
Frontenac grapes have a semi-early bud break and can be harvested in early October after 1,250 to 1,350 Celsius degree days – compare that with 1,400 to 1,600 degree days for Cabernet Sauvignon.
The grape and wine industry in British Columbia needs to become aware of the availability of hardy wine varieties that produce good quality wine as shown by the gold, silver and bronze medals won in numerous Canadian and international wine competitions.
The BC Wine Authority is conducting a plebiscite until mid-December among its members dealing with four proposed amendments to the Wines of Marked Quality Regulation, which deals with all aspects of VQA. One of the amendments includes the addition of five grape varieties to the ‘List of Acceptable Grape Varieties’ for BC VQA. The proposed additions include the hardy varieties Frontenac, Frontenac Blanc, Frontenac Gris, La Crescent and Marquette.
These grape varieties are not “new” to many grape growers and wineries in Quebec and Ontario, the Maritimes and the Eastern and Midwest States of the USA.
When fully dormant these varieties are reportedly hardy to temperatures of -32ºC to – 35º C. Several varieties have survived temperatures as cold as -40ºC. Some varieties are grown without winter protection in Eastern Canada and USA while others, such as Foch, Vidal, Baco Noir and all V. vinifera selections require winter protection or are considered marginal in these colder areas.
Grape varieties currently popular with the wine industry in British Columbia are not reliably winter hardy in many parts of the province.
These “new” hardy wine varieties are unlikely to replace currently popular grape selections grown in climatically suitable areas, but these hardy varieties could expand commercial grape production into areas climatically marginal or not suited for current grape selections.
Elmer Swenson of Wisconsin, a grape breeder who died in 2004, introduced many hardy selections that are also early maturing. Some of his selections are better suited to cooler climate areas with a long frost free season, but low accumulations of growing degree days. Some popular varieties from Swenson’s breeding program are referenced in the accompanying table below.
One of those varieties is Baltica, a Russian selection hardy to -40ºC, which is one of the earliest maturing varieties in the world. Baltica requires only 100 to 120 frost free days and 650 to 750 growing degree days. It can be used as a varietal by itself, but is mostly used for blending and the production of light red wines.
The University of Minnesota expanded wine grape production in colder climates of North America by introducing the hardy wine grapes Frontenac in 1996, La Crescent in 2002, Frontenac Gris in 2003 and Marquette in 2006. A mutation of Frontenac, called Frontenac Blanc, with the same hardiness characteristics was found in Quebec in 2006 and later in Minnesota.
This year a tasting of wines made from Marquette, Frontenac, Frontenac Gris, la Crescent, Frontenac Blanc, Osceola Muscat, St. Croix, Louise Swenson and Vandal-Cliché was held at a local winery in October. One wine received double gold at the All Canadian Wine Championships, another a single gold at the All Canadian Wine Championships and several took gold, silver and bronze medals at the Finger Lakes International or at Grands vins du Quebec wine competitions. ■
