← Back

🍇 Vidal

Also known as: Vidal Blanc, Vidal 256
White Origin: Charentes, France

About Vidal

Vidal is a French-American hybrid created by Jean Louis Vidal in the 1930s by crossing Ugni Blanc with Rayon d'Or. While technically French in origin, Vidal has become synonymous with Canadian icewine, where its thick skin and resistance to cold winters make it ideal for late-harvest and frozen-grape wines. The Niagara Peninsula in Ontario produces world-class Vidal icewines that rival German Eiswein. The grape's high natural acidity balances the intense sweetness of icewine, creating wines of remarkable complexity. Vidal also makes attractive dry and off-dry table wines with tropical fruit character.

Wine Colour & Appearance

Typical colour: Deep gold to amber (icewine)

Pale straw (dry) to deep amber (aged icewine)

Colour Variations by Region

Niagara Icewine:
Dry Vidal:
Intensity Deep
Clarity Brilliant
Viscosity Very high (icewine)

Wine Characteristics

Body
Medium
Acidity
High
Sweetness
Varies

Aroma & Flavour Profile Le Nez du Vin Reference →

Aromas (Nose) [Le Nez aroma]

  • Tropical fruit
  • Apricot apricot#19
  • Peach peach#20
  • Pineapple pineapple#04
  • Honey honey#27
  • Citrus
  • Floral

Flavours (Palate)

  • Apricot apricot#19
  • Mango
  • Honey honey#27
  • Marmalade
  • Candied citrus
  • Tropical fruit

Old World vs New World

Understanding regional style differences helps identify origin in blind tasting.

🏰 Old World (Europe)

  • Rarely grown in Europe; the hybrid was created there but not cultivated commercially