Petite Pearl Seedling from a 1996 cross of MN 1094 x E.S. 4-7-26 Selected in 2000
•Berry 2g; cluster 85-140g (Ave 96g), compact, very dense cluster with large shoulder; resembles the Portugese variety, Touriga Nacional. •4 tons/acre production common on high cordon. Excellent variety for mechanical harvesting. •Good mildew resistance and good resistance to rot, with one case of botrytis reported in Vermont. •Good winter hardiness over many years, although injured at Zone 4a and 3b sites during the winter of 2013-14 (pretty much all varieties suffered during this record winter); no injury from the record warm spell + freeze in March, 2012 that caused many varieties, including Marquette to suffer trunk injury; good choice for Zone 4b and more moderate parts of Zone 4a. •Late budbreak in spring; secondary buds are nearly as productive as the primaries •Neat moderate growth habit, few laterals, low maintenance •Ripens fruit over a range of heat from 1350-1450 C (2430-2610) degree days and 160 days growing season •With sufficient heat, very good harvest parameters, typically 24 Brix, pH = 3.45, TA = 0.7-0.8. On cooler sites, brix is lower, pH is lower and TA is a bit higher, but still under 1%. •Abundant soft tannins and excellent balance of tannins and total polyphenols; one of the higher ranking varieties in the NDSU tannin/polyphenol benchmarking trials. •Wine is garnet red; quite complex, with typical hints of clove, star anise, celery seed, mocha, and wild mushrooms. Excellent fullness and tannin structure in the mouth and finish; excellent balance of acid, tannin and alcohol; no native or hybrid flavors in the wine. •In addition to varietal wines, Petite Pearl is an outstanding blending component to add body, tannins finish, and softness to lighter more acidic wines. It also has made award-winning rose' wines. •Certified virus free at the Foundation Plant Service where it grows in the Russell Ranch certified block.
