Isabella Grapes
About
This grape is believed to be a hybrid of a Vitis labrusca and a Vitis vinifera. It is used in the production of some varietal and sparkling wines and as a table grape. It's cold resistant, and grows well in the former Soviet Union. There it is used for both juice production and wine making, though modern winemaking has been known to mitigate much of the Isabella's 'foxy' aroma.
In Eastern Europe, the Isabella grape is called many names, such as Seksarda in Croatia, and Izabella in Hungary and Georgia. As Fragola, it is cultivated in the cooler areas of Italy and Australia. In New Zealand, the Kiwi version is called Albany Surprise. Large acreages of this grape are grown in Brazil and other areas of South America, as well as in Portugal, and Japan. Altogether, the vine has more than 50 different names.
