New and old grape varieties (part 1)
Thanks to the emergence of new varieties of grapes and the constant improvement of the qualities of the old, the geography of planting of this culture in the country is expanding every year. Today, winegrowers can choose from hundreds of varieties of technical and table purposes, even in the difficult conditions of Russia, giving decent harvests of sweet large berries that can withstand severe frosts and other vicissitudes of the climate.
Victoria grapes
Grapes Victoria is distinguished by abundant formation of the ovary, therefore rationing of the brushes is sometimes required. On adult bushes, it is recommended to leave from 25 to 30 eyes, while the shoots can be cut by 5–8 buds, or much shorter - by 2–4 eyes.
Peas are observed in some years. For a more friendly formation of brushes, it is desirable to have a pollinator grape on the site that blooms simultaneously with Victoria.
Conical, moderately dense clusters consist of large berries weighing up to 7.5 grams and have an average weight of 500-700 grams. The shape of the beautiful pink-red berries is oval or ovoid. When fully ripe, the sweet, slightly acidic Victoria grapes take on additional nutmeg notes.
Lydia grapes
One of the old grape varieties received a new life from Russian wine growers-lovers of the middle zone, where it has established itself as a reliable supplier of aromatic sweet berries. The history of the variety began in the 60s of the last century. At this time, Lydia became widely known in the traditional areas of viticulture, and now a high-yielding vine, which yields up to 40 kg of berries per bush, can be seen in the Central Black Earth Region and the Moscow Region.
Lydia grapes, which have an average ripening period, high winter hardiness, belongs to both table and technical varieties. In the direct ancestors of the grape variety, the American species labrusca is present, which explains the specific bright aroma of Lydia, the increased sliminess of the berries and their "fox taste".
On tall bushes, medium-sized cylindrical-conical brushes are formed. Rounded berries with a dense skin and have a pink-purple or dark red color and a pronounced gray waxy coating. The taste is harmonious. In favorable years, Lydia grapes accumulate sugar well.
Due to its unpretentiousness, if climatic conditions permit, the variety can be grown without shelters and used for landscaping a personal plot, arches and arbors... As a technical variety, Lydia grapes are good for juicing, as well as for aromatic dessert and fortified wines.
Grape Senator
The hybrid form, obtained by E.G. Pavlovsky as a result of crossing chocolate grapes and the Gift of Zaporozhye, is distinguished by early ripening, high growth rate and resistance to known diseases and pests of grapes. The vine tolerates frosts down to –23 ° С.
Already at the end of August or in September, medium-dense large clusters ripen on the Senator grape bushes, weighing on average 600-750 grams. The bunch consists of even, oval large berries, weighing more than 11 grams.The dark red color of the fruit is hidden under a bluish waxy bloom. The pulp has a pleasant consistency, not liquid, aromatic, with nutmeg notes in the taste. The bunches of this grape variety are well stored and can be transported without loss.
Cardinal grape
One of the most famous grape varieties of American selection, which appeared thanks to the "parental pair" Alphonse Lavalle and the Queen of the Vineyards, Cardinal, was widely spread in France, the Balkans, Italy and other, primordially viticultural southern regions.
On the one hand, the Cardinal grapes attract with very large rounded berries with characteristic grooves and clusters up to 30 cm long, ripening by mid-August. The bunches are easily stored for up to three months and transported. Berries store a lot of sugar and traditionally deserve high marks from experts. This variety is great for growing at their summer cottage.
On the other hand, a magnificent table grape variety, delighting with the fleshy pulp of purple aromatic berries, is extremely demanding and gives stable yields only on fertile soils and sufficient heat. Under unfavorable conditions, the ovary or flowers fall off, the berries do not develop properly and ripen in the "pea" stage.
At the same time, Cardinal grapes are often affected by harmful fungi and gray rot, medium-sized bushes and numerous pests do not bypass.
Thanks to the work of Russian and Ukrainian breeders, who did not want to put up with the shortcomings of an excellent grape variety, Cardinal varieties appeared that retained the taste of their predecessor and are easily distinguishable by the shape of the berries, but are more winter-hardy and resistant to diseases.
Cardinal grape resistant
The Resistant Cardinal grape was obtained by crossing the Moldavian Criuleni grapes and the famous American Cardinal. As a result, the variety received early ripening times, from 115 to 120 days, retained the large size of the brushes inherent in the Cardinal, and the size of dark pink or purple berries.
In this case, the shoots survive frosts well down to –22 ° C, however, in the conditions of severe continental winters, it requires shelter. The shoots of this variety of Cardinal grapes ripen well, the risk of shedding flowers and peas is significantly reduced. Higher vines resistance to rot and mildew.
In the Crimea, Kuban and Krasnodar Territory, the plants of this grape variety give clusters weighing from 500 to 900 grams. The berries weigh up to 9 grams, have a dense, fleshy consistency and a decent nutmeg taste.
Grape Cardinal AZOS
In Anapa, Russian breeders obtained their own Cardinal, which requires 120 - 125 days to ripen. Possessing increased winter hardiness and resistance to fungi-pests, the Cardinal AZOS grape forms vigorous bushes with shoots that ripen well by autumn.
Like the American grape variety, the Russian Cardinal has very large clusters that can weigh more than a kilogram, as well as crunchy sweet reddish-blue berries, bastre, and more efficiently accumulating sugar than its predecessor.
Rochefort grape
The Cardinal grape gave rise to a whole family of interesting varieties and hybrids. The Rochefort grape appeared as a result of crossing E.G. Pavlovsky Seedlings Cardinal with Grape Talisman.
The resulting grapes, which require 105-110 days to ripen, are classified as early or early varieties. Rochefort bushes have high vigor, good maturation of annual shoots. Up to 24 shoots can feed from 4-6 meters of area, while it is recommended to use pruning for 6-8 buds.
The vine tolerates frosts down to -23 ° C, suffers little from wasp infestations, has an average resistance to mildew, slightly less in powdery mildew, and in relation to phylloxera, the grape variety requires special serious protection.
Dark red or purple berries, collected in sour, weighing up to 900 grams, can become almost black in color and weigh up to 12 grams. The berries have a fleshy flesh with an unobtrusive nutmeg flavor and dense, but not interfering with fresh fruit consumption. Rochefort grapes are distinguished by the highest marketability and taste.
Ruslan grapes
A yielding hybrid form of table grapes bred by a famous enthusiast from Ukraine V.V. Zagorulko, obtained as a result of crossing the Kuban and the Gift to Zaporozhye. The resulting Ruslan grapes have early ripening periods, winter hardiness within –24 ° C and a high percentage of maturation of annual shoots.
The vine of this grape variety grows rapidly, has an increased resistance to powdery mildew and mildew, and already in mid-August it gives an average density, large clusters, weighing on average about 700 grams. Ruslan grapes have oval large dark-gray berries due to the waxy bloom of berries weighing more than 12 grams. The consistency of the fruit is firm and sweet. The brushes are well stored, while the berries do not lose their juiciness and appearance.
Grape Original
Table attractive grapes of Ukrainian selection obtained by crossing the Datie de Saint-Vallee and Damascus rose varieties. It takes 135 to 145 days for the Original grapes to ripen, while the plants form vigorous bushes that are resistant to phylloxera and diseases caused by fungi.
The vine can withstand the load of up to 60 buds, while the plant responds well to feeding and care, but it reacts sensitively to negative weather conditions, which is expressed in peas and average yield. In some years, the shoots of the table grape variety do not ripen well enough, which can be prevented by normalizing the brushes and carrying out pinching.
Moderately dense or loose clusters of this variety weigh 400-600 grams. Very large berries have an attractive pink color and an elongated nipple shape with a characteristic pointed tip. Due to the insufficiently strong attachment of the berries to the stalks and juicy tender pulp, it is not recommended to store and transport the bunches of grapes. The original is not recommended.
Grapes Original New
Grape Original New or Zagrava is a hybrid obtained by crossing the already known varieties Original and Kobzar, which takes from 135 to 145 days to ripen. Compared to the predecessor variety, Original New is distinguished by the absence of peas, brighter berries with dense pulp without excessive softness and thinner skin.
The grape variety forms extremely large clusters weighing more than a kilogram, consisting of white-pink, well-recognized by shape and color of berries.
To obtain intensely colored berries on Zagrava, it is recommended to thin out the foliage near the brushes and avoid excessive density of shoots. In Original New grapes, the vine is not damaged at temperatures down to –22 ° C, and the hybrid is also characterized by increased resistance to common grape diseases. Wasps also do not seriously harm the crop.
Valek grapes
From crossing Rizamata, variety Kesha 1 and grapes Star amateur breeder N.P. Vishnevetsky got the Valek grapes, ripening in just 105 days. A plant in a self-rooted culture is characterized by a high growth rate, excellent yield and ripening of annual growth. Winters with temperatures not lower than –24 ° C are tolerated by the vine without significant losses, and is rarely infected with pathogenic fungi and rot.
The grape variety stands out for its amicable formation of the ovary, even in years with unfavorable weather conditions. At the same time, massive brushes are formed on the bushes, sometimes reaching a weight of up to 2.5 kg and having a very attractive appearance for the consumer.
Berries weighing about 15 grams have a fleshy consistency, an attractive yellow color and an unusual pear flavor.In the sweet taste of Valek grapes, nutmeg tones are clearly visible. Bunches can be transported and stored without harm to the berries.
Grapes Long-awaited
The long-awaited grapes were received by V.N. Krainov from a couple of well-proven table varieties: Kishmish Radiant and Mascot... Early maturation is inherent in this hybrid form. In the conditions of the Kuban and Crimea, the first brushes can be removed at the beginning of August. At the same time, the bushes annually give a high, well-maturing growth, are resistant to common diseases and frosts down to –25 ° C.
The bunches, which consist of oblong nipple-like berries of white or yellowish color, weigh 500–800 grams and have a beautiful conical shape. The average berry weight is 8-9 grams. The flesh of the grapes The long-awaited fleshy and juicy with a harmonious taste, the perception of which does not interfere with the average thickness of the skin.
Jupiter grape
The Jupiter grape was obtained by American breeders and classified as a seedless grape. Of the dark-colored varieties of this type on the market, Jupiter stands out for its high frost resistance, down to –27 ° C, and good immunity to diseases caused by fungi and common pests. It is these qualities that made the grape variety popular among Russian winegrowers.
Compared to the varieties described above, Jupiter produces small brushes weighing up to 250 grams. Its berries also cannot be called record ones. Their weight varies from 4 to 6 grams, the fruits have a deep purple or blue color. The grape variety quickly accumulates sugar, the fruits do not undergo cracking, and small rudiments are only occasionally found in the juicy, fleshy pulp.
Grape Talisman
The Talisman white grape variety has a table purpose and is widely known for its decent resistance to common crop diseases, frost resistance and large berries of good taste.
The ripening period of the grapes obtained from the crossing of Rapture and Frumoas Albe is 125–135 days. With high vines growth, the shoots ripen well by autumn and provide a bountiful harvest for the next year.
Bunches of Talisman grapes are not too dense, conical in shape, can weigh more than 1200 grams. Moreover, the oval berries of this variety are also noteworthy. They are very large, weighing from 12 to 16 grams and have a good consistency and pleasant taste, in which after ripening a nutmeg hue appears.
Lowland grapes
The author of this hybrid form of grapes is V.N. Krainov. Thanks to the crossing of the Tomaysky and Talisman varieties, the Nizina grapes were obtained, ripening in 125 - 130 days and attributed to the varieties of the average ripening period. The minimum temperature tolerated by the shoots is –23 ° С.
Cylindro-conical, not very dense bunches of Nizin grapes have a mass of 600-700 grams, in some cases the clusters grow up to one and a half kilograms. The attractive reddish-purple oval berries have a harmonious taste, a fleshy consistency with sufficient juice and a weight of up to 14 grams.
Crystal Grape
Grapes Crystal of Hungarian selection is obtained from a complex crossing of Amur and local grape varieties with the well-known Villars Blanc grapes. Berries of a fruitful variety, ripening in 110-120 days, are excellent raw materials for making table wines and dry white sherry.
This grape variety has an average growth rate, excellent winter hardiness, which makes it possible to cultivate the vine in regions where frosts down to –29 ° C are not rare in winter. The bushes are not damaged by rot, but the resistance to fungal infections is very average. When growing this variety, it is important not to allow excessive bush density, leading to shedding of the ovary and a drop in yield. The sugar content and acidity of Crystal grapes is strongly influenced by weather conditions during ripening.
The variety is characterized by clusters weighing 170-200 grams, consisting of round or oval yellowish-green berries weighing up to 2.5 grams. The consistency of the fruit is juicy, the taste is harmonious, transmitted to the drinks made from grapes.
Grapes Rusbol
Villars Blanc paired with Super Early Seedless Grapes gave the growers another interesting grape variety. These are Rusbol grapes, which yield 115 - 125 days after bud revival. The table variety begins to form inflorescences already 2–3 years after planting, and as the bushes mature, their growth strength increases markedly, and the growth matures steadily.
Rusbol grapes tolerate frosts of the order of -25 ° C, well resist attacks of pests and pathogens. A characteristic feature of Rusbol is overloading with pouring brushes, therefore pinning and rationing of the harvest are mandatory procedures for this grape variety.
For this, assigned to the VI class of seedlessness of grapes, the formation of extremely large, highly branched clusters is characteristic, from 400 grams to 1.5 kg in weight. The berries are oval, greenish-yellow, very sweet with soft rudiments of seeds in a juicy pulp.
Rusbol grapes have deserved the removal of winegrowers and breeders, therefore, today several interesting varieties have been created on its basis. An example of this is Rusbol improved and Rusbol nutmeg. These varieties have retained all the positive qualities of the parent plants, but acquired their own advantages. The improved Rusbol grape pleases with larger berries and fewer rudimentary seeds. And the name of Muscat Rusbola fully reflects its best quality - a delicate nutmeg aroma of ripe berries.