Dutchess is another variety from A. J. Caywood[185] of Marlboro, New York, from seed of a white Concord seedling pollinated by mixed pollen of Delaware and Walter planted in 1868. The white fruited maternal vine was an offspring of Concord pollinated by Montgomery. Dutchess was introduced by its originator about 1880. The variety was placed on the grape list of the American Pomological Society fruit catalog in 1881 where it has since been retained.
Vine vigorous to weak, depending upon amount of winter injury, often not hardy, an uncertain bearer, susceptible to mildew in some localities. Canes intermediate in length and number, medium to below in size, moderately dark brown, covered with a slight amount of bloom, surface usually somewhat roughened; nodes slightly enlarged and flattened; internodes short to very short; diaphragm unusually thick; pith below average size; shoots slightly pubescent; tendrils intermittent, short, bifid to trifid.
Leaf-buds large to medium, short, thick to medium, conical to obtuse. Young leaves faintly tinged on lower side and along margin of upper side with light rose-carmine. Leaves above medium to below, irregular in outline, of average thickness; upper surface light green, slightly glossy, moderately smooth; lower surface pale green, pubescent; veins not distinct; leaf usually not lobed, with terminus slightly acute; petiolar sinus of average depth, medium to narrow; basal sinus shallow when present; lateral sinus varies from medium in depth to a mere notch; teeth intermediate in depth and width. Flowers fertile or nearly so, open somewhat late; stamens upright.
Fruit ripens in mid-season, keeps and ships well. Clusters large to medium, long, rather slender, below average width, not very uniform, slightly tapering to cylindrical, with prominent single shoulder, medium to compact; peduncle short to medium, not very thick; pedicel inferior in length, quite slender, nearly smooth, enlarged at point of attachment to fruit; brush amber-colored. Berries of medium size, roundish to oval, pale yellowish-green verging on amber, some berries showing a decided bronze tinge, covered with thin gray bloom, persistent, firm. Skin sprinkled with small dark dots, rather thin, tough, adheres to the pulp, contains no pigment, without astringency. Flesh very pale green, translucent, juicy, fine-grained, tender, vinous, sweet, of pleasant flavor, quality high; on heavy clay soils the quality is not fully developed. The seeds, which are tender and easily crushed, separate readily from the pulp, one to two or occasionally three, rather small, wide, short to medium, plump, moderately sharp-pointed, brownish; raphe obscure; chalaza of average size, roundish, above center, distinct.