SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) – The grape by the name of Erante Nior first got its start nearly 30 years ago by a professor at the University of California, Davis… by 2019, five different varieties of the grape were released… that’s when the University of Florida started studying it to see if it can grow in Florida’s hot and humid climate.
Ali Sarkhosh, an associate professor for the University of Florida said, “As soon as they release this new variety, we planted them in a research plot at the university of Florida center and research plot in Citra, Florida to evaluate this new variety to see how they can grow under than Florida condition”
Farmers use water spray to protect strawberries from freezing temperatures
After nearly 5 years, they found success!
The interesting thing about this grape is that it’s resistant to Pierce’s disease! Up until now the only other grape that could withstand Florida and the southeastern climate is the muscadine grape, which is also resistant to pierces disease.
When asked about the disease, Kristin Hokanson, owner and operator of Fiorelli Winery explained, “Pierce‘s disease is a fungal infection that affects the vine and ultimately what happens is it goes into the leaves of the vines and it clogs up the pores the same thing as it would clog in your skin. It clogs the pores in the leaf, which causes the vine to die.”
So, what does this mean for Florida? We get more wine that bring is more flavors. According to head winemaker, Daniel White, a more Mediterranean flavor!
“How this is different is the reality that we can’t create Cabernet wines in Florida because muscadine‘s are the only grape that can grow, but I hybrid crossbreeding. There will be the ability to potentially grow those cabs, those Merlot’s that most people are familiar with that flavor profile.” -White
Fiorelli Winery in Bradenton say they are already looking forward to the possibilities this new grape can bring to the Suncoast!
“We’re always looking for a new ways and new opportunities to grow and expand our wine collection so having this new hybrid muscadine low blend would be in instrumental to us growing and expanding, and just really concreting the wine industry in Florida” – Hokanson
Copyright 2026 WWSB. All rights reserved.
