ROCHESTER, NY:  Cornell University officially named and released three new wine grapes during the 31st annual American Society for Enology and Viticulture/Eastern Section Conference and Symposium, held July 9-11 in Rochester, N.Y. The three new grapes-Noiret', 'Corot noir' and  'Valvin Muscat'-were developed and tested by Bruce Reisch, grape breeder and professor of horticultural sciences at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, N.Y., in cooperation with Thomas Henick-Kling, professor of enology at the Experiment Station and leader of Cornell's enology program.

"All three grapes are broadly adapted to the wine growing regions in the East, and produce high quality varietal wines that are superior to those currently available to Eastern growers today," said Reisch.

'Noiret' (pronounced "nwahr-ay "), a mid-season red wine grape, is a complex interspecific hybrid resulting from a cross made in 1973 between NY65.0467.08 and 'Steuben'.

"'Noiret' represents a distinct improvement in the red wine varietal options available to cold-climate grape growers," said Reisch. "Wines are free of the hybrid aromas typical of many other red hybrid grapes. The distinctive red wine is richly colored and has notes of green and black pepper, with raspberry and mint aromas, and a fine tannin structure." Care should be taken to grow 'Noiret' on sites less susceptible to extreme winter temperatures and downy mildew, noted Reisch.

'Corot noir', a mid- to late-season red wine grape, is a complex interspecific hybrid resulting from a cross made in 1970 between Seyve Villard 18-307 and 'Steuben'.

"'Corot noir' is a distinct improvement in the red wine varietal options available to cold climate grape growers," said Reisch. "Wines are free of the hybrid aromas typical of many other red hybrid grapes, and can be used for varietal wine production or for blending. The distinctive red wine has a deep red color and attractive berry and cherry fruit aromas."

'Valvin Muscat' is a mid-season white wine grape with a distinctive muscat flavor and aroma that is desirable for blending as well as for varietal wines. The complex interspecific hybrid grape resulted from a cross made in 1962 between Couderc 299-35 (an interspecific hybrid known as 'Muscat du Moulin') and 'Muscat Ottonel'.

"'Valvin Muscat' is recommended for the production of high quality muscat wines," said Reisch. "Vines are well suited to good grape growing sites in the Eastern United States, and should only be grown on suitable rootstocks." Some care should be exercised to control disease, and fruit should be picked when the muscat flavor reaches its peak, he noted.

'Noiret', 'Corot noir' and 'Valvin Muscat'are the seventh, eighth and ninth wine grapes respectively to be released by the Experiment Station. Previous wine grape releases from Cornell include: 'Melody', 'Horizon', 'Cayuga White'(grown widely throughout New York and beyond), 'Chardonel' (now the number two grape in Missouri), 'Traminette'(quickly gaining in popularity throughout the East), and GR7 (used in red wine blends).

Vines of the three new grapes are available from licensed commercial nurseries. Contact B.I. Reisch <bir1@nysaes.cornell.edu> for a list of sources. Commercial nurseries may be licensed by contacting Cornell Research Foundation, 20 Thornwood Drive, Suite 105, Ithaca New York 14850 (phone: 607-257-1081; fax: 607-257-1015; email des33@cornell.edu).

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Note to Editors: This release and photos of the three grapes and the grape breeder are linked to the Experiment Station's web site at www.nysaes.cornell.edu/pubs/press/current

For any media who want to cover the announcement, it will be at 3:50 p.m. on Monday, July 10, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Rochester. Interviews with grape breeder Bruce Reisch can be arranged.

Contact: Linda McCandless, llm3@cornell.edu, wk 607-254-5137; cell 607-227-5920