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.