Photo by VIVC - Vitis International Variety Catalogue
Description
Chambourcin is a French-American hybrid red grape from the breeder Joannès Seyve, available since 1963. DNA work traces it to Joannès Seyve 11369 × Plantet (Seibel 5455). It bears large, fairly loose bunches of medium-sized blue-black berries and is known for well-coloured red wines, among the best rated of the hybrids. It is a mainstay in humid eastern US states such as North Carolina.
Characteristics
Black (blue) hybrid wine grape; medium berries; large, moderately loose bunches; seeded; very vigorous and productive; late-ripening in the eastern US; good downy mildew resistance; sensitive to sulfur sprays
Growing Tips
Chambourcin can overcrop, so thin bunches to keep the vine strong. Its leaves resist downy mildew well, but it still needs some protection against powdery mildew in high-pressure years. Do not use sulfur on it, because the foliage is sulfur-sensitive. It ripens late and is only moderately cold-hardy, so it suits regions with a long season and mild winters. It is also sensitive to drought and chlorosis.