La Crescent ™ MN1166

Cross made in 1988 (St. Pepin x ES 6-8-25[Wisc. Riparia #2 x Muscat Hamburg]). Selection made in 1992.

MN 1166 is a grape variety to be used primarily for white wine production. The plant of MN 1166 is moderately vigorous and very winter hardy. The vines are moderately resistant to phenoxy herbicide injury and moderately susceptible to foliar phylloxera damage. The diseases downy mildew and black rot have been observed on the leaves but not on the fruit. The vines set a light to moderate crop load that varies from year to year. The fruit are borne on a loose, medium sized cluster. The berries are small to medium sized and amber with a waxy bloom at maturity. The fruit at harvest is usually relatively high in sugar and moderate too high in acidity. The wine has desirable aromas of citrus, apricot, pineapple, and muscat and lacks ‘foxy’ aromas associated with Vitis labrusca and herbaceous aromas associated with vitis riparia.

MN 1166 has an unusual combination of outstanding wine quality and very high cold hardiness not found in existing grape varieties.