(ArkansasMatters) -  In a climate notoriously hostile to wine grapes, the U of A System Division of Agriculture has produced a red and a white grape that can withstand Arkansas weather conditions and diseases, after two decades of work.

The first wine grapes from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Fruit Breeding Program expand options for grape growers and wine makers in Arkansas and neighboring states.

Opportunity, a white wine grape, and Enchantment, a red wine grape, have shown good adaptation and consistent productivity in Arkansas, said John R. Clark, Distinguished Professor of horticulture and director of the division’s fruit breeding program.

Clark and Renee Threlfall, research scientist in food science, introduced the new grapes to the Arkansas Association of Grape Growers during their annual conference in Ozark last Friday.

Some of the wine makers in the group have had early samplings of the grapes to test in their vineyards.

Keith Striegler, grower outreach specialist for E&J Gallo Winery, said he expects Opportunity is going to replace Cayuga, a New York grape that is one of the most common white wine grapes in the eastern U.S.

“It has all the good wine making features of Cayuga,” Striegler said, “without the problems associated with growing it.”

He said Enchantment also will make a fine wine grape.