Grape plant named ‘Dazzle’

#Latin name: Vitis L. hybrid.

#Varietal denomination: ‘Dazzle’.

#The new and distinct cultivar of grapevine named ‘Dazzle’ is described herein. The new cultivar originated from a hand-pollinated cross of ‘Gewürztraminer’ (not patented) x ‘Melody’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,159) made in 1991. The seedlings fruited in the summer of 1995 in a vineyard near Clarksville, Ark. and one was selected for its potential as a wine grape for utilization in the Mid-South of the United States. The original vine was tested as ‘Ark. 2574’. The new cultivar is a pink-skinned (white) wine grape which provides advancement in cold hardiness as well as a light, fruity flavor in wine produced from the grapes.

#The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the new cultivar in color as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make in a color illustration of this character. The data collection was from vines that were 23 years old.

#FIG. 1 is a photograph showing typical cluster of healthy fruit, near Clarksville, Ark.

#FIG. 2 is a photograph showing the leaf abaxial view (right) and adaxial view (left), near Clarksville, Ark.

#‘Dazzle’ differs from its female parent, ‘Gewürztraminer’, in that it ripens earlier in the season. ‘Dazzle’ differs from its white-skinned male parent, ‘Melody’, in that the fruit skin color is pink on ‘Dazzle’. The soluble solids content of ‘Dazzle’ averages 19.4%, in contrast to 18.6% average soluble solid content of ‘Melody’. Average yield of ‘Dazzle’ (9.8 kg/vine) is similar to that of ‘Melody’ (9.7 kg/vine). ‘Dazzle’ is distinctly different from similar varieties of grapevines currently cultivated. The proposed variety has higher soluble solids than ‘Opportunity’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 30,425) which averages 17.3%. Ripe berries are 1 g smaller than ‘Opportunity’.

#The following is a detailed description of the botanical and pomological characteristics of the subject grapevine. Color data are presented in Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart designations, 1986 version, second edition.

#Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations of averages set forth as accurately as practicable.