Just recently, using microsatellite DNA analysis Dr. Erika Maul's group in the Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI), Germany, confirmed the vinifera involvement in Isabella's pedigree which revealed that the vinifera parent is the very rare French (white) cultivar, Meslier petit (a.k.a.

It is thought that it resulted from random pollination when European Vitis vinifera grapes were attempted to be established in America.

[5] One of the most popular grapes in the former USSR, Isabella was brought to the former Soviet nations of Georgia, Azerbaijan and Moldova from France through Odessa.

The grape is also grown in Australia around Port Macquarie, from which a distinctive dessert wine style is made.

Isabella has over 100 aliases including: Albany Surprise, Alexander, Black Cape, Borgoña, Champania, Constantia, Dorchester, Fragola, Framboisier, Glippertjie, Glipdruif, Isabelle, Izabella, Odessa, Pierce,[11] Raisin de Cassis, Moschostaphylo, Kerkyraios, Tudum and Tzortzidika.,[2][7] Căpșunică (Romania).