Hybrid grapes are
grape varieties that are the product of a
crossing of two or more
Vitis species. This is in contrast to crossings between grape varieties of the same species, typically
Vitis vinifera, the European grapevine. Hybrid grapes are also referred to as inter-specific crossings or "Modern Varieties." Due to their often excellent tolerance to
powdery mildew, other fungal diseases, nematodes, and
phylloxera, hybrid varieties have, to some extent, become a renewed focus for European breeding programs. The recently developed varieties,
Rondo, and
Regent are examples of newer hybrid grape varieties for European viticulturalists. Several North American breeding programs, such as those at Cornell and the University of Minnesota, focus exclusively on hybrid grapes, with active and successful programs, having created hundreds if not thousands of new varieties.