Baco Noir

Baco Noir was bred in France by François Baco, but it has become a recognizable red hybrid in Ontario and the Finger Lakes. UC Davis identifies its pedigree as Folle blanche crossed with Vitis riparia; it is not pure vinifera. Regional wine descriptions emphasize high acidity and, in Finger Lakes examples, medium body, firm tannin and rustic, earthy or smoky notes. Those are useful expectations to test, not guarantees for every bottle.

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Vidal Blanc

Vidal blanc is a French-bred interspecific hybrid that has become especially familiar in Ontario through Icewine. Its French technical profile describes acidic, fairly high-alcohol wines with restrained aroma, while growers in colder North American regions use it across still, sparkling and late-harvest styles. Purdue’s Indiana guidance and Plantgrape’s French profile differ on winter response, a useful reminder that cultivar behaviour depends on climate, site and management.

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