Aurore (grape)

Aurore
Grape (Vitis)
Aurore grape in Poland
Color of berry skinBlanc
SpeciesInterspecific crossing
Also calledSeibel 5279 and other synonyms
OriginFrance, created by Albert Seibel
Notable regionsNorthern United States, Canada, and United Kingdom
VIVC number784

Aurore (also known as Seibel 5279) is a white complex hybrid grape variety produced by French viticulturist Albert Seibel and used for wine production mostly in the United States and Canada. Over a long lifetime, Seibel produced many complex hybrid crosses (known as Seibel grapes) of Vitis vinifera to American grapes. The Aurore grape is a cross of Seibel 788 (which is Sicilien × Clairette Dorée Ganzin) and Seibel 29 (a crossing of Munson and an unidentified Vitis vinifera).[1]

The fruit of Aurore ripens early in the season between late August and early September. Although the vine is resistant of many mildew diseases, is productive and vigorous, the fruit suffers susceptibility from bunch rot and bird attack. Aurore is planted where growing seasons are short like the Northern United States, Canada and the United Kingdom but is also planted in more temperate climates to extend the harvest season.[1]

Aurore may be used as a table or wine grape. It tends not to be used as a table grape due to unsuitability for shipping and is generally used for bulk wine production for blending with wines made Vitis labrusca grape varieties.[2] It is also used to a lesser extent to make fruity and sparkling wines though the wines tend to have neutral flavor and slight "foxy" character typical of many hybrids.[3]

  1. ^ a b J. Robinson, J. Harding and J. Vouillamoz Wine Grapes - A complete guide to 1,368 vine varieties, including their origins and flavours pgs 66-67, Allen Lane 2012 ISBN 978-1-846-14446-2
  2. ^ Lisa Smiley "Aurore Archived August 29, 2015, at the Wayback Machine" Iowa State University, 2008. Accessed: April 13th, 2008
  3. ^ Appellation America "Aurore" Accessed: April 13th, 2013