Alexander: American variety notable for the historical record. According to Hedrick (Grapes of New York, 1912) the early history of this vine is that of two purported varieties, the Schuykill Muscadell and the Clifton Constantia, both reported as originating as found (before 1804) seedlings in the vicinity of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The former vine was also later given the synonym name of Taskers Grape after a well-known grower in Maryland. Similarly the latter vine was later given the synonym name Cape Grape by a local grower claiming that the variety originated in South Africa and under which name it secured wide distribution. (Reference to the Geilweilerhof database - via link above - discloses that the vine is listed as currently having over 20 synonym names). Both vines were later considered to be an identical V.labrusca x V.vinifera hybrid, (not to be confused with the Alexander Winter vine originated in 1884 by an Ohio grower), requiring a long growing season that precluded successful use in New York and New England. Early descriptions claim the vine unevenly ripened in late season (late October?) in the cooler climates of the USA, having black skinned berries considered quite sweet and musky, 'making a very fair wine' but too pulpy and coarse for tablegrape use. Later, when the Catawba variety was widely introduced the older grape was superceded and finally completely dropped from cultivation. On a modern day note it was recently announced (8/2000) that Alexander variety vines have been planted in the Thomas Jefferson Monticello Vineyard, Monticello, Virginia, as part of a long-term plan to create an authentic reproduction of the 18th century vineyard. Otherwise it is currently regarded as a minor variety of only historical interest.

 

Related Words

Alexander: American variety notable for the historical record. According to Hedrick (Grapes of New York, 1912) the early history of this vine is that of two purported varieties, the Schuykill Muscadell . . . View Full Definition

Alexander Technique: The Alexander Technique is movement education in which the student is taught to sit, stand, and move in ways that reduce physical stress on the body. Alexander Technique teachers use gentle . . . View Full Definition

Cotton Vitellius A.Xv: The Old English manuscript that includes The Passion of Saint Christopher, The Wonders of the East, and The Letter of Alexander to Aristotle, Beowulf, and the Old English translation of Judith.

Enlightenment: (also called the neoclassic movement) the philosophical and artistic movement growing out of the Renaissance and continuing until the nineteenth century. The Enlightenment was an optimistic . . . View Full Definition