Life Style / Wine Grapes / Champanel: Large, vigorous American hybrid grape with high heat and drought resistance. Commonly grown in Texas and other Gulf States it is one of the few hybrids developed by T.V. Munson that is resistant to Pierce's disease, the main limiting factor to grape growing in the Gulf South. Recent observations have found that it can, however, act as a host to the bacterium. Reported to be a cross between V. Champinii and a Worden seedling. Since Champanel also has excellent resistance to nematodes, has tolerance of extremely alkaline soil and in spite of the fact that it has only limited resistance to Phylloxera, it is valuable as a rootstock for the black-waxy alkaline soils of Texas. Rootstocks are not usually expected to produce fruit of value, so many grape growers have rejected Champanel for making wine. The grape, however, produces a quite acceptable red wine judged generally superior to such red varieties as Miss(issippi) Blue and Midsouth. The black-skinned berries are reported as low in sugar (15% Brix) and with high acid (1.1 TA) when harvested too early. Ripens about with Concord. The vine's extreme vigor means it does well where other vines may not survive and does not need to be grafted, responding well to cordon or curtain pruning. On certain poorly drained soils showing a high pH the variety can show susceptibility to serious iron chlorosis problems.
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