🍇 Isabella

Isabella is an American hybrid grape with a bright strawberry flavour. It arose in North America in the 19th century as a natural hybrid of a native vine and a European grape. One parent is the species Vitis labrusca, whence comes the unusual "foxy" aroma, an acquired taste.

The variety is very undemanding. It copes well with cold and disease, so it grows where fussy European varieties struggle. The vine is vigorous and climbs trellises and arbours, and the berries are dark blue with thick skins. People like to plant Isabella in gardens, by houses, for eating and home winemaking.

Juice and wine are made from it, usually simple and fruity, sometimes sweetish. The variety is popular in Moldova, in Abkhazia and in southern Ukraine, for example around Izmail. Among its pedigree links are named Lydia, Hartford and other American varieties.

Isabella became an example of a variety that spread around the world without large estates. In a number of countries rules restrict it for commercial wine.