Chardonel
Also known as: GW 9
Chardonnay-leaning quality with more hardiness; least hardy of the hybrids here.
Across the consideration criteria
What it makes
Aromatic family
Tasting notes
How it grows
- Cold hardiness
- -15°F
- Ripening
- Late-season
- Vigor
- High
- Disease tolerance
- Very high
- Drainage need
- Well
- Soil pH
- 6–7
- Graft requirement
- Graft Recommended
- US availability
- Widely Available
Considerations
Primary buds start to die near -15°F. Handles a normal cold-climate winter, but a hard freeze is a risk.
Needs roughly 3050 growing degree-days to ripen, a late-season variety (Winkler III). Wants a long, warm season; marginal in cool regions.
Foliar-disease pressure is moderate for this variety, a regular spray program in a humid climate. Regular cover sprays through the wet months.
Susceptible to Pierce's disease. Only a threat in the warm, humid South and parts of California; cold-winter regions cure it naturally.
High vigor. Wants leaner ground and active canopy management, or fruit hides in shade.
High heat tolerance. Holds up to a hot, sunny season.
Moderate water demand. Average moisture needs for a wine grape.
Prefers soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Outside the band, lime or sulfur brings it in range.
Phylloxera-tolerant: own-rooted vines are fine.
These are intrinsic to the grape. On a real property, Folia scores each against your site; here they're shown on their own.
Grows alike
similar to growVillard Blanc
Same heat band (high) · Same Winkler band (III)
Ambulo Blanc
Same heat band (high) · Same Winkler band (III)
Caminante Blanc
Same heat band (high) · Same Winkler band (III)
Traminette
Same heat band (high) · Same Winkler band (III)
Cayuga White
Same Winkler band (III) · Both moderate diurnal dependence
Blanc du Bois
Same heat band (high) · Both moderate diurnal dependence
Climate-adapted alternatives
more resilient picksTraminette
PIWI: bred for fungal pressure · Better powdery mildew + black rot resistance (4 pathogen-steps improved)
Cayuga White
Better powdery mildew + black rot resistance (3 pathogen-steps improved) · Same role (dry table)
Southern Home (Muscadine)
Better downy mildew + botrytis resistance (3 pathogen-steps improved) · Same role (dry table)
Cabernet Blanc
Better downy mildew + powdery mildew resistance (3 pathogen-steps improved) · Same role (dry table)
Sauvignac
Better downy mildew + powdery mildew resistance (3 pathogen-steps improved) · Same role (dry table)
Aromella
Better black rot + botrytis resistance (2 pathogen-steps improved) · Tolerates 2°F more winter cold
Could Chardonel grow on your land?
See how Chardonel scores against your specific property, with local precedent, climate, and the tradeoffs for your ground.
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