Melody, Corot Noir, Valvin Muscat are perhaps not the best known grape varieties with wine lovers. They are all “hybrids”, i.e. crossings that are not the pure European Vitis Vinifera. Such hybrids can be much more resistant to diseases and to cold weather but have a reputation to produce wines that are not necessarily very tasty. Perhaps this is going to change. In the Finger Lakes district (cold and not too suited to vinifera) in northern New York Cornell University is carrying out research to improve the hybrid varieties and they have come up with some interesting results.
Swedish Hill Vineyards is one of the local wineries that are trying out many hybrid varieties with (we are told) good result. cornellsun.com
