In the years 2008–2011, 18 wine cultivars described as traditional and used for production of wine of recognized quality were assessed in the collection of grapevine in Skierniewice (Central Poland, latitude 51o57’ N, longitude 20o08’ E). This group included 16 cultivars which have been cultivated in Europe for centuries: Auxerrois, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Chasselas Blanc (Chrupka Złota), Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, Pinot Noir Precoce, Portugieser, Riesling (Weisser Riesling), Saint Laurent, Sauvignon Blanc, Silvaner, Tauberschwarz, Traminer Rot and two cultivars dating back to the 19th century: Goldriesling and Mueller-Thurgau. Bushes of enumerated cultivars, grafted on V. berlandieri x V. riparia SO 4 rootstocks, were planted in 2007 and annually covered for winter.
Taking into account fertility, quality of fruit, susceptibility to frost and fungal diseases, the following cultivars proved most suitable for cultivation in the conditions of Central Poland: Auxerrois, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Riesling and Chasselas Blanc, which is classifi ed as both wine and table cultivar. The assessment of frost resistance, based on observation of those parts of bushes which were not covered, showed that least susceptible to frost damage were plants of the cultivar Riesling, and most susceptible were plants of Mueller-Thurgau, Portugieser, Sauvignon Blanc and Silvaner. To the group of cultivars most susceptible to infections caused by pathogens of fungal origin belonged: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Mueller-Thurgau, Portugieser, Sauvignon Blanc, Silvaner and Tauberschwarz.