Champanel: Interspecific hybrid (V. champinii x ‘Worden’) developed by T.V. Munson in 1893. Medium to large clusters with large black berries. The fruit of Champanel makes excellent jelly, and can be used to make a fruity flavored wine.
T.V. Munson’s descriptions of Champanel
CHAMPANEL. 1893. (V. Champini x Worden). Growth rampant, exceedingly resistant to heat and drought, growing well in limy, black soils. Clusters large, conical, with long peduncle, rather open. Berries globular, large black, with white bloom, persistent; skin thin, pulp tender, juicy, very sprightly, acid unless well ripened, then quite agreeable; seeds rather large, easily leaving the pulp. Ripe about with Concord, which resembles very much in cluster and berry. Does well in any soil, valuable for black waxy lands of the South, where few other varieties will grow. Ripens evenly and not given to cracking or dropping as is the Concord or Worden in the South. 10 to 12 feet. Long arm pruning. Perfect flower.
T.V. Munson made extensive use of native American grape species, and devoted a great deal of his life to collecting and documenting them. He released hundreds of named cultivars, though only a few remain of significance today. Though breeding for wine quality seems to have occupied a great proportion of his effort, it was his work on rootstock development that had the greatest impact on viticulture. This work provided European grape growers with phylloxera-resistant stocks, allowing them to recover from the devastating epidemic of the late 19th century while still growing the ancient Vitis vinifera cultivars. In honor of this work, the French government named him Chevalier du Merite Agricole of the French Legion of Honor, and Cognac, France, became a sister city to Munson’s home of Denison. (from:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Volney_Munson)
Information on this page is from Missouri Botanical Gardens, Dave’s Garden, All things Plants, Texas Superstar or Aggie Horticulture |
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