Regent (grape)
{{Short description|Variety of grape}}
{{Infobox grape variety
| name = Regent
| image = Regent-gr.jpg
| caption =
| species = Interspecific crossing
| also_called = Geilweilerhof 67-198-3
| origin = Siebeldingen, Palatinate, Germany
| hazards =
| regions = Rheinhessen, Palatinate
| notable_wines =
}}
Regent is a dark-skinned inter-specific hybrid grape variety, used for making wine.{{cite encyclopedia |editor=Jancis Robinson |encyclopedia=Oxford Companion to Wine |edition=Third |title=Regent |year=2006 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford |isbn=0-19-860990-6 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/oxfordcompaniont00janc/page/565 565] |url=https://archive.org/details/oxfordcompaniont00janc/page/565 }} It has both European (Vitis vinifera) and American vine species in its pedigree and a broad resistance against the most significant fungal diseases which affect grapes, such as downy mildew.
History
Regent was created in 1967 by Professor Gerhardt Alleweldt at the Geilweilerhof Institute for Grape Breeding in Germany by crossing Diana, a Silvaner x Müller-Thurgau cross and thus a Vitis vinifera variety, with the interspecific hybrid Chambourcin.[http://www.vivc.de/index.php?r=passport%2Fview&id=4572 Vitis International Variety Catalogue: Regent] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120422105542/http://www.vivc.de/datasheet/dataResult.php?data=4572|date=2012-04-22}}, accessed on June 19, 2008 Experimental plantings followed in 1985,[http://www.deutscheweine.de/icc/Internet-DE/nav/e80/e8060b82-fba0-6401-e76c-d7b482058468&_ic_uCon=1e0308fd-e785-7401-be59-267b48205846 German Wine Institute: Regent] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130304210212/http://www.deutscheweine.de/icc/internet-de/nav/e80/e8060b82-fba0-6401-e76c-d7b482058468%26_ic_uCon%3D1e0308fd-e785-7401-be59-267b48205846 |date=2013-03-04 }}, accessed on June 19, 2008 {{in lang|de}} varietal protection was received in 1994 and it was released for cultivation in the first German region in 1996.[http://www.bafz.de/baz2006V4/index.php?id=455 Institute of Grapevine Breeding Geilweilerhof: Regent] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927202840/http://www.bafz.de/baz2006V4/index.php?id=455 |date=2007-09-27 }}, accessed on June 19, 2008 It is at present among the most important new fungal-resistant quality grape variety world-wide, especially in German wine regions.
Wine regions
The cultivated area in Germany was {{convert|1754|ha}} in 2019, with an decreasing trend. {{citation|surname1=Deutsches Weininstitut|title=Statistik 2020/2021|publication-place=Mainz|date=2021|language=de, en|url=https://www.deutscheweine.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Statistik_2020.pdf
}}, Format: PDF, KBytes: 219, accessed on October 26, 2021 This made it Germany's most cultivated hybrid grape variety. Regent is also grown in the United Kingdom with some success. In Belgium, it is authorised for all still wine AOCs : Côtes de Sambre et Meuse,[http://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/cgi_loi/loi_a.pl?language=fr&caller=list&cn=2004052715&la=f&fromtab=loi&sql=dt=%27arrete%20ministeriel%27&tri=dd+as+rank&rech=1&numero=1 Decree text of Côtes de Sambre et Meuse] (in French) Hageland,[http://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/cgi_loi/loi_a.pl?language=nl&caller=list&cn=2000010633&la=n&fromtab=wet&sql=dt=%27ministerieel%20besluit%27&tri=dd+as+rank&rech=1&numero=1 Decree text of Hageland] (in Dutch) Haspengouw,[http://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/cgi_loi/loi_a.pl?language=nl&caller=list&cn=2000010633&la=n&fromtab=wet&sql=dt=%27ministerieel%20besluit%27&tri=dd+as+rank&rech=1&numero=1 Decree text of Haspengouw] (in Dutch) and Heuvelland.[http://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/cgi_loi/loi_a.pl?language=nl&caller=list&cn=2005111843&la=n&fromtab=wet&sql=dt=%27ministerieel%20besluit%27&tri=dd+as+rank&rech=1&numero=1 Decree text of Heuvelland] (in Dutch)
Grape and grapegrowing
Regent is a cool-weather red winegrape. Regent provides medium-sized grapes and clusters. It is a heavy bearer, and has an upright growing habit that is similar to vinifera: It can be trained to the VSP (Vertical Shoot Positioning) method from canes tied to the low fruiting wire. It is a mid to late-season ripener. In some climates (e.g., NW Oregon USA), Regent often blooms during the last week of the Spring rains (which usually cease on or about July 5), and the blooms, if wet, are highly susceptible to Botrytis, which rots the flower clusters and prevents fruit set. This is the primary "Achilles Heel" of this otherwise impressive grape; a lesser disadvantage is its late ripening schedule. This grape would do best in a cool, dry area with a long growing season. Further north in upstate Washington, the vine buds and flowers later and this issue is less observed. Without preventive steps, Regent often yields no fruit in NW Oregon if Botrytis is not managed.
Wines
Regent wines are colour intensive red wines with moderate acidity, can have rather much tannin and show aromas of cherries or blackcurrants. The wines often reach high alcohol levels since Regent tends to reach high must weights. Some German versions are matured in barriques. The grape is fairly easy to make good wine from. It has excellent skin color (perhaps so much that the color can seem overly vivid), and clean vinifera-type flavors.