Cognac has a long-term plan to reduce the spraying in the vineyards. Currently, four different hybrids are being tested in the vineyards. All four grape varieties have good resistance to both downy mildew and powdery mildew. They also have the qualities required for cognac production, namely high acidity and low sugar content. And, not least, they give yields as high as the grape currently used in Cognac, ugni blanc.
However, the four hybrids need to be studied for a number of years to make sure they are right for the job. After the phylloxera, Cognac largely switched from folle blanche to ugni blanc as the latter was easier to graft on American roots.
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