SV 20.366 Wine Grape Vine

The Seyve-Villard 20-366 variety, also known as SV 20-366, is a French interspecific grape variety developed in the 20th century as part of an extensive breeding program aimed at creating resistant and productive varieties suitable for cooler regions and less favorable growing conditions. It is used for the production of table wines, regional wines, and sparkling wines, and in the past it was also popular as part of blended cuvées with other hybrids (e.g., Seyval blanc, Vidal blanc).

Breeders: Bertille Seyve and Victor Villard
Parent varieties: Seibel 6468 × Seibel 6905
Type: white interspecific (hybrid) grape variety
Species: hybrid of Vitis vinifera × Vitis rupestris × Vitis aestivalis × Vitis labrusca
Distribution: cultivated mainly in the cooler regions of Europe – northern France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom, and Canada

Viticultural characteristics

Early ripening: ripens relatively early – at the end of September or the beginning of October, which makes it suitable for cooler climates.
Frost resistance: very good, tolerates temperatures down to approximately -25 °C.
Disease resistance: good resistance to downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola) and grey rot (Botrytis cinerea), moderate resistance to powdery mildew.
Yield: high and consistent, requires yield control to maintain quality.
Growth: vigorous, suitable for pergolas as well as traditional trellising systems.

Wine characteristics

Color: pale yellow to golden.
Aroma: delicate and fruity, with notes of citrus, apple, and sometimes hints of flowers or muscat.
Taste: fresh, balanced, with lively acidity and a clean, light impression.
Wine style: suitable for producing fresh dry white wines, as well as semi-dry and sparkling wines.
The wines are generally light and intended for early consumption – not suitable for long-term aging.

In the 1950s and 1960s, the Seyve-Villard group of varieties (including 20-366) became the foundation of modern hybrid breeding in North America. Many contemporary North American varieties (e.g., Vidal blanc, Seyval blanc, Chambourcin, Cayuga White) have a direct or indirect genetic link to Seyve-Villard 20-366.