What grape varieties are suitable for Crimea

The Crimean history of viticulture goes back thousands of years. Local growers have a wealth of experience in the cultivation of this culture. The climatic conditions of the peninsula are more than favorable: an abundance of sun, a long period of warmth, an average daily temperature above + 10 ° С for 180 days in the north and 210 days in the south, fertile soil. All this creates suitable conditions for the cultivation of wine and table grape varieties in the Crimea.

How many grape varieties grow in Crimea

Viticulture in Crimea has existed for over 2 thousand years and is considered the leading branch of agriculture. The total area of ​​vineyards is over 18 thousand hectares. About 90 grape varieties are grown in Crimea. The most famous are Rkatsiteli, Aligote, Green Sauvignon, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot group, White Kokur, Bastardo Magarachsky, Muscat, Merlot, Feteasca, Chardonnay, Saperavi, Pink Traminer, White Sukholimansky.

The territory of the peninsula is divided into three viticultural zones according to climatic conditions: foothill, south coast and steppe. The maximum area is occupied by vineyards in Bakhchisarai, Simferopol districts and in the territories belonging to the cities of Alushta, Sudak and Yalta.

South coast zone best suited for growing table varieties Asma, Moldova, Red Globe, Amber Muscat, and technical Rkatsiteli, Aligote, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Green Sauvignon, Saperavi, White and pink Muscat, Aleatico, etc.

In the foothill zone table varieties Italia, Codryanka, Cardinal, Early Magaracha, and technical Rkatsiteli, Pinot fran, Aligote, Riesling Rhine, Chardonnay, Shabash are cultivated.

In the steppe zone popular table grapes Early Magaracha, Arcadia, Moldova, Agadai, Odessa souvenir, and technical varieties of Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Saperavi.

Reference. The ratio of table and technical varieties as a percentage is 17 to 83.

The best table grape varieties for Crimea

Table grapes are cultivated in all natural zones of the Crimean peninsula, except for mountain plateaus. The following varieties are popular: Cardinal, Moldova, Italy, Agadai, Arcadia, Codryanka, Laura.

Cardinal

Cardinal is an early ripe variety, bred by the American breeder E. Snyder.

Description:

• average vigor of bushes;
• 52% of fruitful shoots;
• cylindrical-conical, large clusters, loose structure;
• bunch weight - 340-520 g;
• berries are round-oval or oval, less often with a beveled top and a shallow groove;
• the skin is thin, purple-red, with a moderate waxy bloom;
• sugar content - 16-17%;
• yield - 70-120 c / ha;
• harvesting - August 18-25;
• frost resistance is average;
• the variety is susceptible to bacterial cancer, oidium and mildew.

Moldova

Moldova is a late-ripening variety bred by breeders of the Moldovan company "Vierul". Another name is Guzal Kara.

Specifications:

• medium-sized bushes;
• 80-90% of fruitful shoots;
• cylindro-conical clusters, moderately dense;
• bunch weight 380-400 g;
• large oval berries;
• thick, dense, dark purple skin with a thick waxy coating;
• crispy flesh;
• balanced taste;
• sugar content - 17.7-18%;
• yield - 147-167 c / ha;
• resistance to mildew, oidium, gray mold and phylloxera;
• average frost resistance;
• harvesting - September 15-25.

Italy

Italy (Muscat Italia, Goldoni, Italian Muscat, Pirovano 65) is a late-ripening variety bred by the Italian Alberto Pirovano in 1911.

Specifications:

• vigorous bushes;
• 35% of fruitful shoots;
• large clusters, cylindrical-conical, loose structure;
• bunch weight 600-1000 g;
• large, oval and ovoid berries;
• thick, yellowish-amber skin with a thick waxy coating;
• juicy pulp;
• balanced taste;
• Muscat-citrus aroma;
• sugar content - 16-18%;
• yield - 75-80 kg / ha;
• medium resistance to frost, mildew, gray rot and powdery mildew;
• harvesting - September 17-25.

Agadai

Agadai is a Dagestan medium-late grape variety.

Specifications:

• vigorous bushes;
• 60-70% of fruitful shoots;
• large, cylindro-conical, loose brushes;
• large, oval berries;
• dense, light, green-yellow skin with a yellow-pink tint and thick purine;
• dense, crispy flesh;
• tart, simple taste;
• sugar content - 16-19%;
• yield - 80-90 c / ha;
• medium resistance to mildew, oidium, frost;
• harvesting - September 18 - October 5.

Arcadia

Arcadia - a grape variety bred at the V.E. Tairov Institute of Viticulture and Winemaking.

Specifications:

• tall bushes;
• 55-75% of fruitful shoots;
• conical clusters of medium density;
• bunch weight 0.5-2 kg;
• rounded, slightly elongated berries;
• thin but firm skin, light yellow and amber, with a waxy coating;
• dense, juicy pulp;
• balanced taste, nutmeg aroma;
• sugar content 16%;
• yield 80-90 c / ha;
• medium resistance to mildew and frost, high to powdery mildew;
• harvesting - September 15-25.

Codryanka

Codryanka - an early ripe variety bred in 1985 by crossing Marshalsky and Moldova varieties. The selection was carried out by engineers at the Moldavian Scientific Research Institute of Viticulture and Winemaking.

Specifications:

• ripening period - 116-120 days;
• vigorous bushes;
• 70-80% of fruitful shoots;
• large, loose, conical or cylindro-conical clusters;
• brush weight - 0.4-1 kg;
• large, oval-oblong berries with a pointed tip;
• thin, dark purple skin with a waxy coating;
• juicy and dense pulp;
• sugar content - 15-17%;
• yield - 120-130 kg / ha;
• resistance to phylloxera, mildew and oidium, average winter hardiness.

Laura

Laura - an early table variety bred at the V.E. Tairov Institute of Viticulture and Winemaking.

Specifications:

• ripening period 110-115 days;
• vigorous bushes;
• 60-80% of fruitful shoots;
• large, medium-sized, tapered brushes;
• bunch weight 800-1000 g;
• cylindrical or oval berries;
• thin, white-green skin with a waxy coating;
• crispy, firm flesh with a nutmeg aroma;
• sugar content - 20-22%;
• yield 90-110 c / ha;
• average frost resistance;
• resistance to gray and white rot and mildew is high, to powdery mildew - low.

Wine grapes for Crimea

Among the technical grape varieties suitable for cultivation in the Crimea, there are: Rkatsiteli, Aligote, Bastardo Magarachsky, Pinot fran, Pinot gris, Saperavi, Chardonnay. Red and white wines are made from them.

Rkatsiteli

Rkatsiteli is a late-ripening Georgian grape variety.

Specifications:

• vigorous bushes;
• 60-85% of fruitful shoots;
• dense cylindrical-conical clusters;
• brush weight 140-240 g;
• oval berries;
• thin, golden yellow skin with brownish spots;
• juicy and dense pulp;
• sugar content - 18-21%;
• high resistance to mildew, gray rot of berries, to powdery mildew - low;
• average winter hardiness;
• yield - 60-116 c / ha;
• harvesting September 16-30.

Aligote

Aligote - French wine early maturing variety.

Specifications:

• medium-sized bushes;
• 75-85% of fruitful shoots;
• cylindrical-conical, dense clusters;
• brush weight 85-90 g;
• small, rounded berries;
• a thin but firm, yellow-green skin with a pink tint and thick purine;
• sweet, simple taste;
• sugar content - 17-24%;
• yield 90-140 c / ha;
• the variety is prone to gray berry rot, mildew, resistant to powdery mildew;
• average frost resistance;
• harvesting - September 7-16.

Bastardo Magarachsky

Bastardo Magarachsky is a late-ripening technical variety, bred in VNNIIViV "Magarach".

Specifications:

• 80-85% of fruitful shoots;
• medium-sized bushes;
• cylindrical-conical clusters of medium density;
• brush weight - 14-150 g;
• medium, oval berries;
• thick, dark blue skin with thick purine;
• juicy, greenish pulp;
• simple, balanced taste;
• sugar content - 22-25%;
• yield - 107-183 c / ha;
• medium resistance to mildew and oidium, high - to drought;
• average winter hardiness;
• harvesting - September 16-20.

Pinot fran

Pinot fran is a mid-season, frost-resistant, technical variety originally from France.

Specifications:

• medium-sized bushes;
• 86% of fruitful shoots;
• conical, medium-sized bunches;
• dark blue, almost purple, rounded berries;
• transparent, colorless pulp;
• bunch weight - 100-110 g;
• sugar content - 17-20%;
• yield - 120-155 c / ha;
• medium resistance to mildew and powdery mildew;
• high resistance to drought and frost;
• harvesting - August 22 - September 2.

Pinot gris

Pinot gris - mid-season technical grade.

Specifications:

• medium-sized bushes;
• 80% of fruitful shoots;
• bunch weight - 75-80 g;
• small, dark blue berries;
• juicy, transparent pulp;
• pear, apple, lime, lemon, nectarine, honey, flower aroma;
• sugar content - 26-33%.
• yield - 30-42 c / ha.
• the variety is susceptible to mildew and powdery mildew, gray rot, frost resistant;
• harvesting - October 1-10.

Chardonnay

Chardonnay is a mid-season French grape variety.

Specifications:

• medium-sized bushes;
• 64-76% of fruitful shoots;
• bunch weight 70-80 g;
• tapered, medium-dense brushes;
• medium, rounded berries;
• thin, firm, light green skin;
• slimy, juicy pulp;
• simple taste;
• sugar content - 16-18%;
• yield - 30-40 c / ha;
• the variety is susceptible to mildew and oidium;
• average frost and drought resistance;
• harvesting - September 15-20.

Saperavi

Saperavi is a Georgian late-ripening grape variety.

Specifications:

• medium-sized bushes;
• 50-70% of fruitful shoots;
• bunch weight - 115-170 g;
• conical, loose clusters;
• small, oval berries;
• thick, dark blue skin with purine bloom;
• juicy pulp with pink juice;
• refreshing taste;
• sugar content - 21-23%;
• yield - 90-120 c / ha;
• weak resistance to mildew and oidium;
• low winter hardiness;
• high resistance to drought;
• harvesting - September 20-25.

Features of growing grapes in Crimea

The climatic conditions of Crimea allow grow grapes as an open culture. Vine growers use systems of vine guiding on a vertical trellis, a horizontal cordon, on a medium and high stem, using the scheme landing 3x1.5 m. The preferred humidification system is drip. Agricultural enterprises of the Crimea completely switched to it in 2012. Watering is carried out 2-3 times a season, taking into account the weather conditions.

In the spring season they spend pruning annual shoots at ground level. At the end of May, they check the survival rate of seedlings, remove dry branches with unripe buds.

The list of mandatory care procedures includes the prevention of mildew, oidium, gray rot, grape leafworm. In young shrubs, superficial roots are removed to increase the number of vines that mature.

Reference. The bushes are tied by attaching the shoots to the support at an angle of 90 ° until the berries ripen.

Harvesting cuttings for cultivation is carried out by cutting into shoots 15 cm long. Then the planting material is soaked in a solution of the growth stimulator "Kornevin" and completely dried. Future seedlings are stored in a cool room at a temperature not exceeding + 5 ° C.

Grape growers pay special attention to feeding, bring in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium. Boron is added to form ovaries and maintain flowering. To prevent chlorosis - iron.To maintain the vitality of the grapes, especially after the period of spring frosts, the bushes are fed with amino acids.

Conclusion

The Crimean peninsula is a fertile land for growing table and technical grape varieties. Most of the vineyards are reserved for wine varieties, because winemaking has been practiced here for about 2 thousand years. The most famous table varieties are Cardinal, Moldova, Italy, Agadai, Arcadia, Codryanka, Laura. The most popular wine varieties: - Rkatsiteli, Aligote, Bastardo Magarachsky, Pinot fran, Pinot gris, Saperavi, Chardonnay.