Vitis vinifera ‘Fine White Grape No. 23’
An unidentified variety, but described by William Macarthur: ‘No.23 – White Grape (295/3, or 295 of the Montpelier collection [of Busby]). An excellent grape for wine of medium strength, bearing considerable affinity to the preceding [Fine White Grape No.22], but much more productive; it bears large beautifully formed bunches, the berries moderately closely set, not liable to burst and rot, excepting under long continued rains. It has the peculiarity of being from 10 to 14 days behind almost every other variety in bursting into leaf, of being late before the fruit commences to swell to maturity, and yet of ripening as early as the greatest part of the varieties in this division [mid-season ripening]. Next to No. 19 [Raisin Vert], it is considered to be the best white grape to cultivate where produce combined with medium strength is an object, and it may even prove to be superior to it. Both this and the last [Fine White Grape No.22] are excellent table grapes.’ [Maro p.26/1844]
Horticultural & Botanical History
No additional data.
History at Camden Park
Listed in all printed catalogues as ‘ditto ditto ditto’ i.e. ‘White grape (fine)’ [Vines for Table and for Wine no.19/1843]. ‘295-3’ is written next to the name in the 1843 and 1845 catalogues. This number, and all similar, is the reference number of the grape in Busby’s private collection, in the 1840s held at the Sydney Botanic Garden. The specific reference is to grape no. 295 in Busby’s third, or Montpelier collection.
Notes
Published Jun 23, 2010 - 05:01 PM | Last updated Jul 21, 2011 - 12:28 PM
Family | Vitaceae |
---|---|
Category | |
Region of origin | Garden origin, unknown |
Synonyms | |
Common Name | Grape, Table Grape, Wine Grape |
Name in the Camden Park Record |
ditto ditto ditto i.e. ‘White grape (fine)’ |
Confidence level | low |