White grape variety "Pinot grigio"

The grape variety Pinot grigio or more correctly Pinot grigio is translated from Italian as “gray cone”. The bunch of grapes resembles a pine cone, and its mass rarely exceeds 150 g. It is a common technical or wine variety used to produce white wines with a slight floral aroma and a slight acidity. A distinctive feature of the variety is a pink or purple skin with an absolutely colorless pulp.

Description and history of origin of the Pinot Grigio grape variety

The Pinot Grigio grape is a mutation of the white Pinot Noir grape. The grapes are part of the Pinot variety. The first mentions of its offshoot appeared in the 13th century. It is known that the emperor Charles IV himself appreciated the wine from this grape.

The homeland of Pinot is Burgundy, de of the berries made the traditional Pinot Gris wine. However, Italians have learned to get light, aromatic and refreshing wine from grapes that outshines Pinot Gris in taste.

In ancient times Pinot grigio was called Fromenteau. The variety is grown in France, Germany, USA, Hungary. In Switzerland, the variety is called Pinot Gris. On the territory of modern Russia, grapes have been cultivated since 1970, after tests were carried out.

At the end of the twentieth century, a real success came to Pinot Grigio. Winemakers learned to control fermentation and found that berries are suitable for making not only cheap wine, but also an invigorating drink with honey notes.

Pinot Grigio, like all representatives of the Pinot cultivar group, is picky about growing conditions and does not have high productivity. It grows and bears best in temperate regions. To obtain berries with excellent taste, a significant difference in day and night air temperatures is important.

The taste of wine depends on the climate and type of soil, which is why quality control standards have not yet been established. The taste of the drink is very different depending on the area, so there are no general standards.

The Pinot Grigio grapes, before the bunches begin to ripen and the berries acquire a pink or purple color, are practically no different from the Pinot Noir parent. In terms of other indicators, the varieties are identical: small, densely located berries, a conical cluster, resembling a cone.

Pinot grigio belongs to white varieties, despite the dark color of the skin, the flesh is white.

Interesting. Translated from Italian, grigio means "gray bump". Indeed, the grape cluster is shaped like a pine cone.

Variety characteristics

Bushes are tall, powerful, highly branched... The crown with the first leaves on the shoots is densely pubescent, painted along the edge in a wine-red color. Annual shoots are light brown with dark nodes and shortened internodes.

The leaf blade is medium in size, rounded, three- and five-lobed, with a weak section, 15 cm long and 12-14 cm wide.

The flowers are bisexual, do not need pollinators.

Clusters are medium in size, pineal or cylindrical-conical, dense. Brush weight - 80-150 g.

From the moment the buds appear until full maturation, 140–150 days pass.

The Nero clone has undergone a mutation, so the skin color has become less pigmented. The skin is thin but resistant to damage.

The berries are pink or purple, with a gray waxy coating, and the flesh is light, almost transparent. The shape is round or slightly oval. Each berry has 1-3 seeds.

Aroma with notes of pear, apple, lime, lemon and white nectarine, honey and flower spices.

The taste is balanced. Acidity juice medium or high, sugar content 20%.

Sustainability

Pinot Grigio is characterized by high frost resistance. The bushes tolerate frosts down to -20 ° С, and even if they suffer from frost, they quickly recover.

Similar varieties

There are several varieties related to Pinot Grigio: Meunier, Blanc, Fran, Nero, Noir.

Pinot meunier (Pinot Meunier or Black Riesling) is one of the most sought-after varieties for making wines with a rich and refined aroma. Translated from French "meunier" means "miller". The culture is grown in France. I use the products for the production of sparkling wines and champagne.

Pinot blanc Is an old mutation of Pinot Gris or Pinot Grigio. Bushes are tall or medium-sized. Vineyards are located in Italy, Australia, France, Germany and the USA. The grapes ripen early and are characterized by a stable yield. The raw materials are used for the production of expensive white wines.

Pinot Franc - early ripening variety, characterized by resistance to drought, recommended for cultivation on calcareous soils and dry hilly slopes. When cultivated on flat terrain, shedding of flowers and ovaries, freezing of the vine is observed. The berries are dark blue, almost purple in color, the flesh is transparent, colorless.

Pinot noir translated from French means "black cone". The variety appeared in Burgundy, later it was cultivated almost everywhere, but the best performance is observed when cultivated in regions with a temperate climate. Raw materials are used for the production of white sparkling wines.

Pinot nero - a clone of Pinot noir. The variety is grown in Switzerland as a separate variety. Has similar characteristics to Pinot noir. Scent guilt - fruity, floral, oak.

Wine from Pinot Grigio

Pinot Grigio is a technical grape used to produce three styles of white wines:

1. Fruity, dry style. The wine has a rich fruity taste with hints of lemon, apple and peach. This is an average version of Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris, with minimal acidity. Vineyards are cultivated in Italy, Chile, Australia and New Zealand.
2. Fruity, sweet... It is a pure Pinot Gris with honey, caramel and citrus aromas. It is produced in France.
3. Mineral, dry... Wine is produced in northern Italy, Romania, Austria and Hungary. Grapes grown in the Alps are distinguished by a high acid content, therefore they contain 10-12% alcohol, and have a recognizable taste and aroma. It is served with vegetables and seafood.

Modern French wine Pinot gris has a rich flavor palette. Italian Pinot Grigio is light, floral with a slight sourness, the aroma of white bread appears in it thanks to the yeast, which eats up all possible sugar, releases the maximum possible amount of alcohol and precipitates. It is he who gives a noble yeast tone that sets off fruitiness.

There is also a rosé wine Pinot Grigio. It is obtained by long-term infusion on grape pulp. The dark pigment in the skin turns the pulp pink. The finished drink becomes light strawberry color. The wine is produced in the Friuli region of northeastern Italy called Ramato. The aroma contains notes of cherries, raspberries, dried cranberries and leather.

White Pinot Grigio is served chilled to +7 ° C as an aperitif, to poultry, fish, vegetables. The drink is light, refreshing, well quenches thirst on a hot summer day.

Reference. Italian wine is aged in old oak or steel barrels so that the taste is not tart.

Planting seedlings

For planting Pinot Grigio seedlings, choose sunny, open areas, without shading and drafts, preferably on the southwest or south side.

The type of soil plays an important role.Grapes develop best on limestone and humus-carbonate soil. 3 months before planting, separate pits or trenches with a depth of 0.5 m are prepared. The bottom is lined with broken brick or gravel, soil mixed with humus, 5 kg of ash and 0.5 kg of azophoska are poured on top, then a layer of clean soil.

Planting is carried out immediately after purchasing the seedlings to prevent the roots from drying out. The seedlings are soaked in clean water at room temperature for 24 hours, then the roots are shortened and the shoots are cut into 3-4 buds. The roots are dipped into a mash made of clay and manure in a ratio of 2: 1 and planted in prepared recesses every 80 cm. The row spacing should be 1 m. The seedlings are completely covered with soil and compact the surface.

Subtleties of care

The first three years after planting, the grapes need special care:

1. Fan bushes are pruned and formed into 4 sleeves to increase productivity.
2. Late spring and autumn pruning is performed simultaneously with effective snow retention due to early budding.
3. When cultivating on the technology of covering viticulture, which is practiced in regions with a cold climate, winter protection is kept until the onset of stable heat.
4. The soil around the bushes is regularly loosened and weeds that drain the soil are removed.
5. In the spring, they carry out the procedure of unstucking and katarovka - trimming thin roots and backfilling of a bare trunk.
6. During the period of active development, the vineyard is regularly watered. Water consumption per 1 bush - 10 liters. In the future, the installation of a drip irrigation system will help control the supply of moisture.
7. Long shoots are broken off and tied to wooden stakes.
8. Organic matter and minerals are applied three times per season: before and after flowering, after the appearance of ovaries. For root dressing, the following compositions are used: 90 g of urea, 60 g of superphosphate, 30 g of potassium sulfate. The land around the bushes is mulched with compost or humus (20-30 l / 1 m²).
9. Upon reaching the age of four, the bushes are regularly cut, giving a fan, cordon or standard shape. Pinot grigio bred by cuttings... This method is still considered the most effective and cost effective.

Disease and pest control

Pinot grigio cannot boast of strong immunity and, depending on the cultivation area, is subject to various diseases. They arise as a result of the negative impact of the external environment and neglect of the rules of care:

• growths and sagging appear on the roots as a result of infection with grape phylloxera;
• growths on the stem - the first symptom of infection with bacterial cancer;
• grapes are often affected by acacia scutellum, mealybugs, grape cushion, grape leaf mites;
• chlorosis (yellow tops of leaves and their subsequent dying off) is a particular danger to Pinot;
• growth retardation of shoots, curly leaves with a gray-white bloom, dying off of inflorescences, cracking of berries - signs of powdery mildew;
• infestation with black spot is indicated by black, oblong spots on the lower internodes with a crack in the middle in summer, white-gray color of the bark with a large number of dark spots;
• dull foliage, numerous black punctures indicate the appearance of a spider mite;
• leaf discoloration of the mosaic type is characteristic of boron deficiency;
• lightening of the leaves at the edges and between the veins indicates a lack of magnesium;
• the purple color of the leaf blade indicates potassium deficiency;
• leaves twisted into a tube are the result of damage by a tube weevil.

To combat fungal and bacterial infections, sulfur or preparations with colloidal sulfur are used. After flowering bushes process "Bayleton", "Topsin M", "Rubigan", "Horus", "Fast".

For the destruction of pests, insecticides are used: "Fastak", "Actellik", "Zolon", "Fufanon", "Fury", "Kinmiks", "Danalim", "Apolo".

Biological products are no less effective and safe for humans: "Lepidocid", "Bitoxibacillin".

Interesting. In 1863, filoxera, an insect that feeds on grape roots, was accidentally brought from the North American continent to Europe. This became a real disaster for winegrowers, the pest caused huge damage to vineyards.

Harvesting and storage

To create a unique style of Pinot grigio wine, the grapes are harvested by hand before the onset of technical ripeness, when the berries contain more acid. The technical grade is not stored for a long time, and immediately after harvesting in September it is allowed to be processed.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of the variety:

• pleasant balanced taste and aroma;
• the possibility of processing into wine;
• attractive appearance.

Disadvantages:

• susceptibility to fungal and bacterial infections, insect attacks;
• low productivity and keeping quality;
• exactingness to soil and care;
• bushes need in shelter for the winter.

Conclusion

The Pinot Grigio grape is a long-standing technical variety used to make white wine. It is distinguished by low productivity, but it tolerates frosts down to -20 ° C and shows the best results when grown in temperate climates.

A distinctive feature of the berries - juicy, almost colorless pulp and purple or pink skin. The success of cultivating a variety depends on compliance with the rules of agricultural technology. Bushes need pruning, moderate moisture, feeding with organic matter and minerals, shelter for the winter and prevention of fungal and bacterial diseases.