I am very interested in the Norton grape. I am reading a book "Wild Vine", about the history of the Norton. Very unusual history indeed, for a grape, whose wine won such honors in Vienna and France in the late 1800's, only to fall out of favor for many years following.
A question for those of you growing Nortons. How are they progressing? Have you made wine from them; if so, how has it turned out?
A month or so ago I tried a bottle of Norton, which was from Iowa, and was very pleasantly surprised at the quality. I was bracing myself for a musky, herbaceous taste, but neither was present. I don't really know why I was expecting those tastes; maybe because the only other bottle of wine I tasted, which was from Iowa, tasted that way. (Sorry Iowans, I haven't tasted enough of your wines to have made such a harsh pre-judgement, concerning the quality of your wines. Needless to say, I was totally wrong about the bottle of Norton.)
BobF, you are from Missouri, what is your take on it? Lots of Norton is grown there, but I haven't spoken with anyone from there.
Is the Norton grown in New York or is it not cold-hardy enough? I read it can handle -25F to -30F. I could get by with growing it in Colorado.
Some refer to the Norton as the Cynthiana. Why is that? According to my book, history says the Cynthiana came from Arkansas and was discovered much later, so how come they are considered the same grape? I also have read the Norton is more astringent than the Cynthiana. Do the growers see them as the same?
A question for those of you growing Nortons. How are they progressing? Have you made wine from them; if so, how has it turned out?
A month or so ago I tried a bottle of Norton, which was from Iowa, and was very pleasantly surprised at the quality. I was bracing myself for a musky, herbaceous taste, but neither was present. I don't really know why I was expecting those tastes; maybe because the only other bottle of wine I tasted, which was from Iowa, tasted that way. (Sorry Iowans, I haven't tasted enough of your wines to have made such a harsh pre-judgement, concerning the quality of your wines. Needless to say, I was totally wrong about the bottle of Norton.)
BobF, you are from Missouri, what is your take on it? Lots of Norton is grown there, but I haven't spoken with anyone from there.
Is the Norton grown in New York or is it not cold-hardy enough? I read it can handle -25F to -30F. I could get by with growing it in Colorado.
Some refer to the Norton as the Cynthiana. Why is that? According to my book, history says the Cynthiana came from Arkansas and was discovered much later, so how come they are considered the same grape? I also have read the Norton is more astringent than the Cynthiana. Do the growers see them as the same?