Vidal Blanc
Also known as: Vidal 256
Mid-Atlantic workhorse white; thick skin, hangs for late-harvest and ice wine, holds acid.
Across the consideration criteria
What it makes
Aromatic family
Tasting notes
How it grows
- Cold hardiness
- -15°F
- Ripening
- Mid-season
- Vigor
- High
- Disease tolerance
- Moderate
- 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 2800 growing degree-days to ripen, a mid-season variety (Winkler III). A mid-length season carries it most years.
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.
Moderate heat tolerance. Comfortable across a moderate heat range.
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 growCayuga White
Same heat band (moderate) · Same Winkler band (III)
Seyval Blanc
Same heat band (moderate) · Same Winkler band (III)
Aromella
Same heat band (moderate) · Same Winkler band (III)
Villard Blanc
Same Winkler band (III) · Both moderate diurnal dependence
Cabernet Blanc
Same heat band (moderate) · Both moderate diurnal dependence
Chardonel
Same Winkler band (III) · Both moderate diurnal dependence
Climate-adapted alternatives
more resilient picksCarlos (Muscadine)
Better downy mildew + powdery mildew resistance (4 pathogen-steps improved) · Same role (sweet)
Noble (Muscadine)
Better downy mildew + powdery mildew resistance (4 pathogen-steps improved) · Same role (sweet)
Magnolia (Muscadine)
Better downy mildew + powdery mildew resistance (4 pathogen-steps improved) · Same role (sweet)
Doreen (Muscadine)
Better downy mildew + powdery mildew resistance (4 pathogen-steps improved) · Same role (sweet)
Tara (Muscadine)
Better downy mildew + powdery mildew resistance (4 pathogen-steps improved) · Same role (sweet)
Triumph (Muscadine)
Better downy mildew + powdery mildew resistance (4 pathogen-steps improved) · Same role (sweet)
Could Vidal Blanc grow on your land?
See how Vidal Blanc scores against your specific property, with local precedent, climate, and the tradeoffs for your ground.
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