A Missouri State University researcher has created a new offspring of Missouri’s famous Norton Grape. And instead of being the rich purple of the Norton- this grape is white, adding another version of a wine that is already distinctive.
Plant scientist Wenping Qiu calls it Norton Blanc and said tastes more like Italian wine, “Pino Grigio or some wine from France. That is why it’s so unique; we don’t have this style of white wine in the Midwest.”
He says the state grape Norton has some valuable traits- including resistance against major plant diseases in the region, lessening the need for chemicals. It also is less sensitive to Midwestern climates.
Chu is with the Center for Grapevine Biotechnology at MSU and told Missourinet it took 20 years to develop this type of hybrid white grape and the wine is already being bottled for testing and tasting.
The two parents are red wines Norton and Cabernet Sauvignon, but the Norton Blanc carries the traits of the grandparent grape. Chu says this is helping his scientists solve the mysteries of grape histories. His research continues.
