Orion (grape)

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Orion
Grape (Vitis)
Species Hybrid grape
Also calledGeilweilerhof GA-58-30
Origin Germany
VIVC number 8802

Orion is a white wine grape variety of German origin. It was created by Dr. Gerhardt Alleweldt (1927-2005) at the Geilweilerhof Institute for Grape Breeding in Siebeldingen in 1964, by crossing the Vitis vinifera variety Optima with the hybrid grape Villard Blanc. [1] [2] Therefore, Orion is itself a hybrid grape (interspecific crossing) rather than a pure Vitis vinifera.

Orion derives its name from the mythological hunter Orion, which gave the constellation Orion its name. [2] It is also known under the synonyms Geilweilerhof GA-58-30 and Gf. GA-58-30. [1]

Orion is grown in small quantities in the UK at the Royal Horticultural Society's Wisley Garden, where it is used together with the Phoenix hybrid grape to produce a dry white wine . [3]

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Muscat bleu Variety of grape

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LAcadie blanc Variety of grape

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Blanc du Bois is an American hybrid grape that was created in 1968 by John A. Mortensen at the University of Florida’s Central Florida Research and Education Center in Leesburg, Florida. Mortensen created this variety by crossing various Vitis vinifera grape varieties such as Golden Muscat with native Florida varieties. When released in 1987, Blanc du Bois became another grape variety in the small but growing number of vine types that can both produce marketable wine on their own yet can withstand Pierce's Disease, a bacterial infection that destroys nearly all vinifera vinestocks imported into the southern United States.

Hibernal is a variety of white wine grape of the hybrid with Vitis vinifera which was developed in 1944, by Heinrich Birk at the Geisenheim Grape Breeding Institute. The variety is a genetic crossbreed of the Seibel 7053 and Riesling clone 239 grape varieties. Hibernal has had plant variety protection since 1977 and was included on the list of varieties in 1999.

References

  1. 1 2 Vitis International Variety Catalogue: Orion, accessed on May 16, 2008
  2. 1 2 Wein-Plus Glossar: Orion, accessed on January 24, 2013
  3. UK Wine Cellar Door accessed on November 14, 2021