Vitis vinifera ‘Bidwill’s Seedling’

‘Bunches, large, long, loose, and shouldered. Berries, large and round. Skin, thin, quite black, and covered with a thin blue bloom. Flesh, tender, melting, and juicy, but with a most disagreeable earthy flavour, which seems peculiar to it, as I have never met with this variety without it. It ripens very well against a wall, in the West of England, by the end of October. The leaves die yellow.’ [Hogg – Fruit Manual p.372/1884].

 

 

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘It was raised by Mr. J. C. Bidwill, of Exeter, and was first exhibited by Messrs. James Veitch & Son, at a meeting of the British Pomological Society in October, 1858.’ [Hogg – Fruit Manual p.372/1884].

 

 

History at Camden Park

There is no mention of this grape in the Macarthur Papers but, given the date of its first exhibition it must have been raised in Australia, possibly at Camden Park or at Tinana.

 

 

Notes

Published Jun 24, 2010 - 12:03 PM | Last updated Jul 21, 2011 - 12:25 PM


More details about Vitis vinifera ‘Bidwill’s Seedling’
Family Vitaceae
Category
Region of origin

Garden origin, probably Australia

Synonyms
Common Name

Grape

Name in the Camden Park Record

None, not recorded in the Macarthur archives

 

Confidence level high