Absaraka Horticulture Research Farm

Grapevine Variety Trial

Established 2004

The North Dakota State University Grapevine Variety Trial was established in 2004 at the Horticulture Research Farm near Absaraka, ND. Grapevines are trained to a single high-wire with spur-pruned bilateral cordons.

Many grapevines tested have not persevered through through the years of evaluation, some due to lack of cold-hardiness and others due to being unpalatable (see E.S. 12-6-18 syn. "The Dirt Grape").

Nickolas Theisen is pictured here enjoying a bountiful 2017 harvest of 'Frontenac' fruit.

2004-2007 Planting

  • 'Alpenglow'

  • 'Baltica'

  • 'Bluebell'

  • E.S. 12-6-18 syn. "The Dirt Grape"

  • E.S. 5-4-71

  • 'Frontenac'

  • 'Frontenac gris'

  • 'King of the North'

  • 'La Crescent'

  • 'Louise Swenson'

  • 'Marquette'

  • MN1131

  • MN1200

  • 'Sabrevois'

  • 'Somerset Seedless'

  • 'St. Croix'

  • 'Valiant'

  • 'Verona'

2008-2011 Planting

  • 'Brianna'

  • 'Edelweiss'

  • 'Geneva Red'

  • 'John Viola'

  • 'Kay Gray'

  • 'Laura's Laughter'

  • 'Leon Millot'

  • 'Marechal Foch'

  • MN1220

  • MN1235

  • MN1258

  • 'Petite Amie'

  • 'Prairie Star'

2011-Present Planting

  • 'Adalmiina'

  • 'Crimson Pearl'

  • 'Frontenac blanc'

  • 'Itasca'

  • 'Petite Pearl'

Early Cropping Results

Early evaluation revealed that yield in North Dakota is low (<2 ton/acre) and quality is poor (high titratable acidity).

These traits (yield, fruit composition) were targeted among the key goals in producing crosses as part of the NDSU-GGEP breeding efforts.

Hatterman-Valenti, H.M., Auwarter, C.P. and Stenger, J.E., 2014, August. Evaluation of cold-hardy grape cultivars for North Dakota and the North Dakota State University germplasm enhancement project. In XXIX International Horticultural Congress on Horticulture: Sustaining Lives, Livelihoods and Landscapes (IHC2014): IV 1115 (pp. 13-22).

Sulfur Sensitivity Screening

Sulfur fungicide sensitivity was examined in multiple cold-hardy interspecific hybrid grapevines.

Observations indicate sulfur application is not recommended on ‘Bluebell’, ‘Baltica’, ‘Sabrevois’, or ‘King of the North’.

Köycü, N.D., Stenger, J.E. and Hatterman-Valenti, H.M., 2017. Cold Climate Winegrape Cultivar Sensitivity to Sulfur in the Northern Great Plains Region of the United States. HortTechnology, 27(2), pp.235-239.

Winter Damage 2018-2019

Extensive winter damage was observed in cold-hardy grapevines. Trunk splitting, trunk collapse, and entire vine death occurred.

'Valiant', 'King of the North', 'John Viola', 'Baltica', and 'Bluebell' were the only cultivars with more than 50% of trunks remaining at the end of the 2019 growing season.

Svyantek, A., Köse, B., Stenger, J., Auwarter, C. and Hatterman-Valenti, H., 2020. Cold-Hardy Grape Cultivar Winter Injury and Trunk Re-Establishment Following Severe Weather Events in North Dakota. Horticulturae, 6(4), p.75.