Seyval

[Winent]

Is anyone familiar with a white wine and or grape variety called "Seyval". Someone gave me a bottle of this and I haven't heard of it.

[Zinner]

Seyval Blanc is a hybrid of French and American vines, with a lot planted in the eastern United States and England. Believe one advantage is that the vines are hardy and tolerant of cold weather.
The ones I've had(American or British)have tended to be clean and crisp with zingy acidity. They can be quite pleasant, so happy drinking!

[This message has been edited by Zinner (edited 01-13-2000).]

[Thomas]

The description above of Seyval is accurate. I call it the Eastern version of Sauvignon Blanc.

As an aside, the grape was once widely planted in France but has been all but removed.

Who's the producer of your Seyval?

[Winent]

Foodie, this bottle was given to me by a fellow resident who had dinner at a small cafe/winery in Cincinnati called Henke winery. I'm always happy to get a free bottle of wine of any description. I'll try it tonight. Thanks for the info!

[Thomas]

Did you know that Cincinatti is the home of the first "mildly" successful winery in the East? Mid-nineteenth century.

[Thomas]

Better make that Cincinnati!

[Innkeeper]

Actually Seyval Blanc and other French-American hybrids are grown throughout France in other than the popular vinicultural areas. They make what once was know as Vin Ordinaire, and is now probably called Non-Varietal Vin de Pays. The French-Americans (crosses between Varietals and Native Americans) were the first effort to build a post phloxara wine industry in France. The root grafting (with American root stock and
Varietal grafts) came later.