Itasca wine grape.The new grape, which will be used to make dry white wines, is the latest in a series of cold-hardy cultivars released by the university that led to the nascent wine industry in Minnesota and other northern climates around the world. Itasca has lower acidity and high sugar levels, says U of M grape breeder Matt Clark, coupled with high resistance to common grape pests such as downy and powdery mildew and the insect phylloxera. It’s shown cold hardiness as far north as the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Zone 4.
“We believe these traits will make ‘Itasca’ a preferred variety for vineyard managers, because they will be able to reduce their spray inputs, and for wine makers in making a dry-style wine,” says Clark, an assistant professor of horticultural science. Licensed nurseries will begin selling the new cultivar in 2017.
Itasca produces a wine that is light yellow to straw in color and has aromas of pear, quince, violet, melon, minerals, and subtle honey notes. “This is a very nice grape with lots of potential as a wine maker’s grape,” said Bryan Forbes, the university’s wine maker. “It is clean and pleasant with pear and floral notes and mineral notes with a long finish.”
I dont have one yet, but its on my list. Looking for any real world experience…
I’ll try using a high cordon this year. My vines are three years old. This year will be the first bunch of grapes. The vines are overwintering on the ground; I didn’t cover them with anything.
I planted about 20 itasca from cuttings last year and so far none are growing, anyone else growing it successfully in ND? My other grapes, including marquette are doing fine this spring.
Derek, why didn’t the cuttings take? Did they not survive the winter? Or is the reason for the death of the cuttings something else?
Our climate is very harsh; nevertheless, Itasca has been overwintering very well—now for the third winter—without any covering. However, if the vines are left on the trellis, they will freeze.
I planted the cuttings directly into the soil in 1-liter plastic cups. 90% of the cuttings took root. Now I have 21 Itasca vines. I fundamentally disagree with the rooting method that requires forming a callus at the base of the cutting.
I haven’t been as lucky by just sticking them in the ground, would be easier if it did work. I drop them in a 5 gallon bucket with couple inches of peat moss on a seed mat and leave it on the back landing outside for a couple weeks. Then pop them in the ground. If if I have growing tops without roots they often fail… all comes down to weather.
Do you usually cover grape vines?
I had several varieties of grapes rated for zone 4 that were growing great all summer and put on 6’ of growth, but got flat out killed last winter when we got down to -18°F. Should they have been covered?
