Vidal Blanc

A French Hybrid grape

Vidal Grapes Vidal Blanc is often just called "Vidal". This is a white wine grape grown primarily in the northeastern US and Canada. Vidal is a French hybrid, meaning it was "created" by pairing two different grape parents. This is sort of like crossing a poodle and a cocker spaniel and creating a cock-a-poo.

In the case of vidal blanc, the varietal was created from the parents ugni blanc and seibel. Note that ugni blanc is also known as trebbiano, and is a white grape used in Chianti blending.

Vidal Blanc is best known for the hardiness of the vines, and is usually grown in locations that are too cold for "well known" grape varieties. The vidal grapes seen at the left were at the Inniskillin Winery in Niagara, Canada where they create a delicious late harvest and ice wine with this grape.
White Wine Riedel wine glass
In general, Vidal blanc is not normally grown to create a straight table wine. Instead, it is used to produce some quite tasty late-harvest sweet wines. Vidal can even be used to create ice wines because it is able to survive in colder weather. When it's used to make ice wines, vidal often has an apricot and tangerine flavor.

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