In his desire to produce a Cognac-producing vine for the west-central region of France, the French grape breeder Jean
Louis Vidal developed this white grape cultivar in the 1930s.
Because of its moderate winter hardiness, this grape variety is used most extensively east of the Mississippi and in the Ozarks, but can also be found in southern Iowa. Vines produce large, long, narrow clusters of loosely packed golden grapes in late season.
Vidal Blanc grapes can produce high quality, high-acidity, fruity wines with grapefruit, lemon, and pineapple notes.
Vidal Blanc is versatile; it is well suited to the production of sweeter, dessert and ice wines, or, with care, it can produce
semi-dry and dry, full-bodied wines akin to Italian dry white wines.
