Clonal evaluation of winegrapes in California has not been extensive. Early selection work by Alley (1977), Olmo (unpublished data) and Goheen (personal communication) resulted in the current collection of virus-tested clones in Foundation Plant Materials Service (FPMS) at the University of California, Davis. However, release of these certified selections was generally not accompanied by publication of viticultural performance or wine sensory attributes. A present day effort to characterize differences among clones of several cultivars has begun (Wolpert et al, 1995), with the objective of determining the viticultural and enological characteristics of winegrape clones. Research to date has centered on certified selections of Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot noir (for sparkling wine) and Zinfandel. In this paper, Cabernet-Sauvignon and Chardonnay performance will be examined in greater detail.
Author: James A. Wolpert
Department of Viticulture and Enology
University of California
Davis, CA 95616