Chambourcin is a dark-berried french hybrid commercially available only since 1963 and popular in the 1970s, particularly around the mouth of the Loire. In 2011 France still grew a total of more than 600 ha/1,635 acres, all in the Loire Valley. This extremely vigorous, productive vine tolerates wet weather well and produces better-quality wine than most hybrids, being deep coloured and full of relatively aromatic flavour. Its winter-hardiness finds it well distributed, if not exactly common, in the US. It was successfully planted by Cassegrain in the warm, damp climate of Hastings Valley in new south wales in Australia, a culture unfettered by anti-hybrid prejudice, and has since spread up and down Australia’s east coast, including Queensland, with outbreaks elsewhere. It also looks promising in vietnam.
