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英文名：Frontenac Gris
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Frontenac Gris is a pink-berried mutation of Frontenac, the cold-hardy hybrid variety bred at the University of Minnesota's horticultural research center. The University describes the variety as "the white wine version of Frontenac … yielding gray fruit and amber-colored juice".
The variety’s history can be traced back to a single cane on a single Frontenac plant, which began bearing pink-skinned berries instead of black. Such pink-berried mutations are not uncommon in the grape world; other well-known examples include Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer. The new cultivar was successfully propagated from cuttings, and commercially released as Frontenac Gris in 2003. It is now cultivated for winemaking in several US states, notably Minnesota and Vermont.
Like Frontenac, Frontenac Gris has strong disease-resistance and is very cold-hardy – essential for surviving the cold, harsh winters experienced in the northern United States (temperatures in Minnesota frequently drop as low as -30F). This, combined with its high yields, makes it a commercially attractive prospect for winegrowers. The variety produces conical, relatively loose clusters of medium size. The berries are capable of achieving elevated sugar levels, which are fortunately balanced by high acidity. Frontenac Gris wines are typically at their best when bottled with a enough residual sugar to maintain a balance between alcohol, acidity and sweetness.
Due to the pigmentation of their skins, Frontenac Gris grapes make wines with a subtle peach-pink color. Despite the appearance of Vitis labrusca in the Frontenac Gris' complex genetic heritage, the University of Minnesota reports it to be free of the foxy aromas often associated with labrusca varieties. The dominant aromas of the wines are those of citrus and tropical fruits, which, combined with its balance of sugars and acids, makes it suitable for the production of both sweet and dry wine styles.
Frontenac Gris is not the only Frontenac mutation; the most recent addition to the family is Frontenac Blanc, a mutation first observed in Quebec.
Food matches for Frontenac Gris include:
- Chicken and spinach salad with lemon dressing
- Maine lobster rolls
- Wasabi chicken salad
