Herbert (grape)

{{Short description|Variety of grape}}

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| name = Herbert

| image = File:Herbert grape.jpg

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| image_caption = Photographic plate of Herbert grape from the book The Grapes of New York, 1908 by Ulysses Prentiss Hedrick

| image_alt = Photographic plate of Herbert grape

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Herbert is one of the collection of grape varieties known as Rogers' Hybrids, created by Edward Staniford Rogers (of Salem, Massachusetts,) in the mid-19th century, and is the result of a cross of Carter, a selection of Vitis labrusca, and Black Hamburg (there are two varieties known by this name, but in this case it was probably Schiava Grossa), a selection of Vitis vinifera.{{cite book |last1=Hedrick |first1=Ulysses Prentiss |last2=Booth |first2=Nathaniel Ogden |title=The grapes of New York |date=1908 |publisher=Albany : J.B. Lyon Co., State printers |pages=[https://archive.org/details/grapesofnewyork00hedruoft/page/291 291]–293 |url=https://archive.org/details/grapesofnewyork00hedruoft}}{{cite book |last1=Hedrick |first1=U. P. |title=Manual of American Grape-growing |date=1919 |publisher=Macmillan |pages=[https://archive.org/details/manualamericang00hedrgoog/page/n457 383]–384 |url=https://archive.org/details/manualamericang00hedrgoog |language=en}} It was originally known as Rogers No. 44.

Herbert is female, and thus requires a second grape variety as a pollen source. Even then, Herbert tends towards straggly, poorly filled clusters. The black fruit ripens with Concord and keeps well. Although never extensively cultivated, it was a favorite of amateurs in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Hedrick considered the quality, at its best, to rival that of its vinifera parent.