Oporto


(Vulpina, Labrusca)



Oporto was at one time in demand as a wine grape because its wine

resembled in color and flavor that from Oporto. The variety is now

scarcely known, being inferior in most of its horticultural characters

to others of its species, but might be valuable in breeding for some

of its characters. The vine is very hardy, unusually free from fungal

diseases, is very resistant to phylloxera and
has been used in France

as a phylloxera-resistant grafting-stock. The juice is very thick and

dark, a deep purple, hence suitable for adding color to wine or

grape-juice. The origin of Oporto is unknown. It was brought into

cultivation about 1860 by E. W. Sylvester, Lyons, New York.



Vine very vigorous, hardy, healthy, variable in productiveness.

Canes long, reddish-brown; nodes enlarged, flattened; internodes

long, diaphragm thin; tendrils continuous, bifid. Stamens

reflexed.



Fruit mid-season, ships and keeps well. Clusters small,

cylindrical, often single-shouldered. Berries medium in size,

round, black, glossy with abundant bloom, persistent, firm; skin

very thin, tender, with much dark wine-colored pigment; flesh

white, sometimes with purple tinge, juicy, fine-grained, solid,

sweet, spicy; fair quality. Seeds free, numerous, small, broad,

faintly notched, sharply pointed, plump, dark brown.



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