For the preparation of wine, special varieties of grapes are used, intended exclusively for these purposes. They have a peculiar taste, so they are usually not consumed fresh. The article presents a list of the best wine (technical) grape varieties with descriptions, photos and characteristics.
White varieties
White wines are made from almost any type of grapes, including dark ones, provided that the juice in the berry is colorless. Wine is obtained by fermentation of squeezed grape juice without the skin. After all, it is in it that pigments are contained. The drinks are light in color - from golden yellow to cognac.
White wines differ from reds in a sweeter taste and a lower alcohol content.
Pinot Blanc
Also known as Chenin Blanc, Steen, Pinot de la Loire, Weisburgunder, Pinot white. It is believed that this variety is obtained by mutation of Pinot Gris. It belongs to the early maturing varieties. The bushes are of medium strength. The vine ripens well.
The bunches, although small in size, but due to their dense structure, weigh 100-110 g. The grapes are small (2.1 g), round, greenish-white. The pulp is juicy with a pleasant varietal taste. The wine is made from it with an almost neutral taste, but you can feel light notes of almonds, apples and flowers.
Consume the drink more often when young.
Chardonnay
A classic white grape of unknown origin. For a long time, it is grown in Burgundy (France). Popular among European winemakers from Italy, Hungary, Germany, Switzerland, as well as the USA, Australia, Moldova, Georgia. In Russia, it is cultivated in the Krasnodar Territory and the Republic of Adygea.
This is a mid-season grape. The bush is medium to tall. Annual shoots ripen best of all. Leaves are medium, roughly wrinkled, rounded, not dissected, but with 5 lobes outlined. The edges are folded down. Their color is light green, golden, later it darkens and a bronze tint appears.
The bunches are medium (90-95 g), medium dense. The berries are small (1.1-1.6 g), slightly oval, greenish-white. The entire surface of the grapes is covered with small brown dots and a weak waxy coating. The pulp is juicy with 1-2 seeds. The yield indicator is below average. The number of fruitful shoots is 40%.
The variety has relatively high rates of frost and drought resistance, but is often affected by mildew, powdery mildew and insects. In rainy weather, the berries rot.
The peculiarity of the variety is the early blooming of the buds, therefore, the risk of damage to the shoots by recurrent frosts increases. Experts recommend vineyards to be placed on the western slopes. The taste and aroma of grapes largely depend on the climate and soil on which it grows.
Riesling
Also known as Rhine Riesling, White Riesling, Reinrisling, Rislinok. A variety from the banks of the Rhine, which has spread to almost all viticultural countries in Europe - Austria, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Germany, as well as the USA, Russia and others. However, Germany remains the historical homeland of grapes.
It is a late-ripening variety (148-160 days) that needs cool nights to ripen. The harvest is removed after the 20th of September. The bush is vigorous. Leaves are medium, 3 or 5-lobed, large-wrinkled, light green with a bronze tint. The lower part of the leaf blade has a cobweb pubescence. The petioles are wine-red. The bunch is medium or small, most often cylindrical in shape. The mass of one bunch is on average 80-100 g.
The berries are small. They are round, greenish-white with a yellowish tinge. Small dark brown dots are densely scattered over the surface. The pulp is juicy with a harmonious, rich taste and 2-4 seeds. Riesling tolerates severe winters well, and due to late spilling of eyes, it practically does not suffer from recurrent frosts.
It easily adapts to different types of soil, it can even grow on stony soil. Productivity depends on climatic conditions and cultivation characteristics. However, the higher the fertility of the soil, the worse the quality of the wine.
Grapes are not immune to oidium, a bacterial cancer. At high humidity, the berries rot, but the plant is relatively resistant to mildew. And also grapes are often attacked by pests - phylloxera, bunchy leafworm.
Wines from it are obtained with a varied palette of tastes and aromas - you can catch fruity, floral notes, dried fruits, licorice, caraway seeds, anise and even an "oil" note.
Biyanka
Early ripening variety, representative of Hungarian selection. Medium-sized bush with well-ripening shoots. Leaves are medium, medium dissected. Bunches 90-120 g, medium density. The berries are small (up to 1.5 g), yellow-green.
The plant is not afraid of frost, tolerates temperatures down to -27 ° C. It has a high resistance to diseases and pests, but it is susceptible to Alternaria. Wasps and birds love to feast on fruits.
The yield is high, but due to the small bunches, it takes a long time to harvest. Ripe fruits can hang on branches for a long time, accumulating sugar. Therefore, when harvesting grapes at different times, you can prepare various wines - dry, semi-sweet, fortified or dessert, but more often berries are used to make cognac.
Sauvignon Blanc
Known as Small Sauternes, Petit Sauvignon, White Sauvignon. A mid-season French variety that is popular in European countries, the USA, Australia and Argentina. The bushes are medium-sized. One-year ripe shoot becomes reddish-brown. Leaves are medium, deeply dissected into 3 or 5 lobes, wavy edges. The lower part is covered with dense pubescence. The cluster is medium, weighing 75-120 g, cylindrical, very dense, similar to an ear of corn.
The grapes are small or medium, round, often deformed. Their color is greenish-white, but in the sun they are covered with a yellow-pink blush. Pulp with an interesting nightshade flavor. The yield is low or medium. It depends on the climate and soil of growth. The cultivar is not resistant to powdery mildew and gray rot, but has an average sensitivity to mildew.
For grapes growing on heavy and wet soils, shedding of flowers is characteristic. Sauvignon Blanc has a high concentration of acids that give it a tart, pungent taste, so it is often used for blending.
White Muscat
An old variety, originally from Syria, Arabia or Egypt - this explains its love for warmth and sun. These are grapes with an early medium ripening period. Leaves are medium with light green veins, sharp large teeth and a light border along the edge.
Annual ripe shoots are light brown in color. The number of fruitful vines is 44%. The bunches are medium, cylindro-conical, with a maximum weight of 450 g. The berries are waxy, quite often deformed, golden. The pulp is juicy with a nutmeg aroma.
For the plant, severe frosts and recurrent frosts are fatal. It reacts to a lack of moisture with a sharp inhibition of shoot growth. It responds well to potash fertilizers. The plant is not resistant to diseases and pests - it is strongly affected by mildew, anthracnose and oidium, gray rot. The grape suffers from the attack of spider mites, phylloxera and grapevine.
This grape variety is usually used for the production of vintage dessert wines with increased sweetness, which can be recognized by the aromas of citron and tea rose, nutmeg champagne, table sweet wine and juices.
Aligote
A folk variety, a native of France, but well known to Soviet and Russian winemakers. It is cultivated in many countries - Chile, Australia, USA (California and Florida), Russia, Eastern Europe and the CIS. The ripening period depends on climatic conditions, it belongs to the early mid-season varieties (148 days).
The bush is medium and tall. A ripe one-year-old shoot turns red-brown, with a bluish-violet color at the nodes. The number of fruiting shoots is up to 84%. Leaves are large or medium, whole, smooth, with edges bent down. The lower part has cobweb pubescence. The cylindrical cluster is medium in size, very dense, with wings and an average weight of 103 g.
Distorted berries of medium size and round shape can often be seen. The thin skin is firm and yellow-green, covered with brown spots. The pulp is tender with 1-2 seeds. The plant is not resistant to gray rot and is easily attacked by mildew, showing medium resistance to powdery mildew. The berries are severely damaged by the bunchy leafworm.
The index for winter hardiness is average, in cold regions it requires shelter.
Experts recommend drinking wine from this variety to young people, immediately after bottling. The wines contain notes of green apple, herbs, citrus fruits. The grapes are suitable for fresh consumption.
Viura (Maccabeo)
Spanish versatile variety that is used for the production of sparkling, dry and sweet wines in Spain and France, and also consumed fresh. The leaves are rounded, slightly dissected with 3 or 5 lobes, rounded, pubescent in the lower part.
The clusters are large, branched and conical in shape. The berries are of medium size, slightly oval in shape and whitish-yellow in color. The pulp is juicy and crispy. The yield indicator is high.
The taste and aroma of wines depends on the grape harvest period. Early harvest and aging in stainless steel vats produce floral, fresh and aromatic wines. If it is kept in oak barrels, and the harvest is harvested later, then nut-honey wines are obtained.
Shasla white
An ancient Egyptian variety that is cultivated in many countries, including Russia - the Volgograd region, the Republic of Kalmykia, the Saratov region and the North Caucasus region. This is an early ripening grape (125 days on average). In addition, it is the basis for determining varieties by maturity.
The bushes are medium-sized. Leaves are medium-sized, five-lobed, rounded with a bronze tint. The bunches are medium, weighing 193 g, conical or cylindro-conical. The berries are small, round, yellow-green with a golden hue, covered with a faint waxy coating and brown spots. Melting pulp, contains 2-3 small bones. The plant produces a stable and high yield. The number of fruitful shoots is 62%.
The indicator for frost resistance is average, requires shelter for the winter, for drought resistance - low. It is heavily affected by diseases - gray rot, bacterial cancer, spotted necrosis, mildew and pests - phylloxera (the variety is the standard of weak resistance), grape leafworm.
Grillo
A grape variety that grows in Sicily. Unlike other white varieties, it contains a higher percentage of sugars, has organoleptic characteristics and has a shelf life. The vine shape is traditional.
The wine has a straw color with green reflections and is characterized by aromas of apples, citrus and white flowers. It goes well with fish, seafood and pasta.
The Sicilians use it to make Marsala, a strong dessert wine with a high alcohol content.
Friendship
A universal variety with a very early ripening period, the harvest is harvested from August 20th. The bush is medium-sized with medium three-lobed, dissected leaves. The lower part of them is slightly pubescent.
The clusters are medium - weighing up to 280 g, cylindrical-conical with wings, moderately dense in structure. The berries are large (4 g), white, round in shape. The pulp is fleshy with a harmonious taste and nutmeg aroma.
The variety is characterized by resistance to mildew, gray rot; treatment is required from oidium. High frost resistance, tolerates temperatures as low as -23 ° C. The fruits are used for fresh consumption and for the production of muscat wines.
Crystal
A very early ripening variety (110-115 days). The bushes are medium-sized with medium, strongly cut leaves of a dark green color. The clusters weigh about 170 g. They are cylindro-conical in shape with a moderate density.
Berries are medium in size (up to 2.1 g), round, white with a waxy coating. The pulp is juicy with a harmonious taste. This highly frost-resistant representative can withstand temperatures as low as -35 ° C. And also it has immunity to mildew and oidium, is not damaged by gray rot. The yield indicator is high.
The grapes are used to prepare dry table wines such as sherry.
Traminer white
Or Savignen Blanc, Rivola beat. This is a variation of the Traminer pink variety, which differs from it only in the white color of the berries. The grape is popular in Moldova, where it is used to produce the vintage wine Trandafirul Moldovei by mixing it with a pink relative in a ratio of 1: 3. It is also widely cultivated in Western Europe.
The leaves of the grapes are small in size with 3 or 5 lobes, slightly sinuous, covered with cobweb pubescence on all sides. The bunch is usually small in size with an average weight of 90 g. Berries are medium in size with a thick skin, round in shape. The pulp has a low acid content, a high concentration of sugars, there are 1-3 seeds, the taste is spicy.
In terms of ripening, grapes are classified as medium late varieties. The yield indicator is high, but not stable. The number of fruit shoots is 50-60%. The variety is moderately resistant to gray mold, mildew and bunchy leafworm. It has good frost resistance, but does not tolerate drought. The plant is demanding on the soil and location of the site - it must be sunny and ventilated.
The wines from this variety are golden in color, with low acidity and with a rich bouquet - the aroma contains notes of tea rose, dried fruits, raisins, wild berries and lemon.
Red varieties
For the production of red wines, grapes with colored fruits are used. Unlike white drinks, reds are more complex and drier. The seeds of the berries contain tannins, which give the wines the necessary astringency.
Grenache Noir
Also known as Alicante, Granacha. An ancient variety, supposedly developed in Spain and one of the most widespread in the world. Bushes are vigorous. The leaves are large, 5-lobed and strongly dissected, without pubescence.
The bunch is large, conical. The grapes are medium in size, round, dark blue in color with high sugar accumulation. It ripens very late (about 145 days). Grapes are undemanding to soil, can grow on poor soil. Drought tolerant.
Rose and red wines are made from this variety.
Pinot Noir
He is Pinot fran, Pinot black, Shpachok, Blau Burgunder. French variety. The berries are shaped like small pine cones. Leaves are medium, rounded, finely bubbly or corrugated, 3 or 5-lobed. The bunch is small, cylindrical, weighing up to 100 g, very dense.
The grapes are medium, weakly oval in shape, often deformed. They are dark blue with a gray waxy coating. The pulp is tender with colorless juice and 2-3 seeds. It is a very late-ripening variety (141-151 days), which is immune to medium rot and moderately resistant to mildew and powdery mildew.
The yield is low. It depends on the weather conditions. Average winter hardiness. The variety is susceptible to mutation, thanks to which new Pinot Noir varieties have appeared:
- Pinot Meunier;
- Pinot Blanc;
- Pinot Gris.
Mourvedre (Mourvedre noir)
A late-ripening variety of Western European origin. Bushes are tall. Leaves are medium in size, slightly dissected, 3-lobed. The cluster is medium, weighing 175 g. Berries are blue-black in color with a strong waxy bloom.
The plant is susceptible to diseases and pests. The yield is average.The variety is notable for its high drought tolerance and unpretentiousness to soils.
Saperavi
The oldest Georgian variety with a late ripening period (150-160 days). Bushes are medium-sized with medium 3 or 5-lobed leaves, oval or ovoid. The bunch is medium - weighing up to 99 g. It is broadly conical, loose and branched.
The grapes are medium, oval, dark blue with a touch. Disease resistance rates are low. Often the plant is damaged by mildew and oidium, in rainy weather - gray rot. It is less damaged by the grape leafworm.
Drought resistance is high, frost resistance is average. At temperatures of -20 ° C, wintering eyes are damaged. A minus of a grade - plentiful shedding of ovaries, flowers and peeling of berries.
Carmener
An old French variety, home to Bordeaux. This is a mid-season grape. The clusters are small or medium in size, cylindrical-conical, winged.
The berries are blue-black, rounded. Herb-like pulp. The variety is prone to shedding of ovaries, but it is immune to fungal diseases.
Cabernet Sauvignon
One of the most popular varieties for the production of red wines. It appeared in the 17th century, in Bordeaux. Its leaves are light green in color with a reddish tint and thick white-pink pubescence. The leaf plate is strongly dissected, has 5 lobes. The clusters are small (73 g) of cylindrical shape with wings.
The berries are round, dark blue with a thick waxy coating. The skin is thick and rough, the flesh is juicy with a nightshade flavor. This is a late-ripening variety, the harvest is carried out in late September-early October. Grapes are characterized by increased resistance to mildew, gray rot. It completely resists a bunch of leaves and is rarely damaged by phylloxera.
It perfectly tolerates adverse weather conditions - drought and frost. However, the heat adversely affects the size of the berries - they are noticeably smaller. It is grown only in a warm climate so that the crop has time to ripen - in France, Chile, South Africa, Argentina, California (USA), Italy and Australia.
Syrah (Shiraz)
This mid-season variety comes from France. Vigorous bush with medium 3 or 5 lobed leaves. Their lower part is covered with a slight pubescence. Bunches of cylinder-shaped, medium size and density.
The berries are rounded with a hollow at the base, small, black in color. Productivity is low. Resistance to major grape diseases and pests is satisfactory. Often wines from this variety are used for blending.
Merlot
French medium-late ripening variety. Its leaves are green with a slight bronze tint, 5-lobed, with rare pubescence on the underside. The weight of the cluster reaches 150 g. It is medium, cylindrical, sometimes with a wing and medium density.
The grapes are medium, black and covered with a thick waxy coating. The pulp is juicy with a nightshade flavor and 1-3 seeds. Productivity is stable and high. Merlot is susceptible to powdery mildew and moderately resistant to gray mold and mildew. Indicators for frost and drought resistance are average.
Sangiovese
The most famous Italian variety with medium late ripening. This is a capricious grape that grows on calcium soils and prefers heat, but does not tolerate drought.
The bush is vigorous with medium 3 or 5 lobed leaves. The size of the bunch depends on the place of cultivation - it varies from small to large. The berries are dark purple. Resistance to diseases and pests is average. The yield indicator is average.
Richelieu
A table hybrid from Ukrainian breeders is distinguished by an early ripening period (115-120 days). The bunch is rather large, weighing up to 800 g, in structure it has an average density, the shape is conical.
The berries are large, oval, dark blue. The pulp is fleshy with a harmonious taste. Berry is not wetted, rarely they are damaged by wasps. Frost resistance is increased, the plant tolerates cooling to -22 ° C. The variety is immune to mildew and oidium; gray rot is affected a little, due to the early ripening of the fruit.
Bobal
He is Bobal, Balau, Balauro, Benicarlo, Bobos. Spanish late-ripening variety. The ripening of the crop occurs at the end of September-beginning of October. The leaves are large, 5-lobed with pubescence on the lower part of the leaf plate.
The bunch has a conical shape. It is dense; it can be medium or large in size. Berries also range in size from medium to large. Often they are flattened due to the density of the bunch, and are colored blue-violet. The variety is resistant to mildew, powdery mildew and is practically not affected by gray rot.
Isabel
Table-technical grade with a late ripening period (150-180 days). The leaves are large, 3-lobed, dark green, on the back - greenish-white with dense felt pubescence. Bunches are cylindrical, medium (140 g), with a wing, medium density.
The berries are medium in size and can be round or oval in shape. They are black with a bluish tint and a thick waxy coating. The skin is thick, the flesh is mucous with a strong strawberry aroma. The yield indicator is low.
Isabella is distinguished by its immunity to fungal diseases, phylloxera and frost, therefore it is often grown as a non-covering culture. In the northern regions, the cultivation of grapes of this variety is impractical, since the berries do not have time to ripen. Eat fresh fruits and use to make ordinary wines.
Malbec
Mid-season variety of French origin. Medium-sized bushes are covered with medium-sized leaves with curved edges down. The size of the bunch is small or medium, in shape - conical or broadly conical, in density - loose.
The berries are medium, dark blue, almost black and covered with a wax coating. The flowers are prone to shedding, so the yield is unstable - low. The variety is often affected by mildew, anthracnose and gray rot, moderately resistant to powdery mildew, and weakly affected by the grape leafworm. Frost resistance is low, the plant also does not tolerate return frosts.
Festival
Early ripe variety of Russian origin. The cluster is small to medium in size, cylindrical-conical, loose. The berries are oval, dark blue with a nutmeg aroma.
The yield indicator is high. The variety is susceptible to phylloxera, but is resistant to frost (up to -26 ° C) and disease. However, it requires mandatory treatment from diseases of fungal origin.
Marquette
A promising new variety from American breeders. It is distinguished by its increased resistance to disease and frost, as well as the excellent qualities of the wines obtained from it. This is a medium-ripening variety.
The clusters are small or medium. The berries are dark blue. The plant can withstand frosts down to -38 ° C and is immune to fungal diseases, moderately resistant to phylloxera. The yield of the variety is average.
It differs in the vertical growth of shoots, which minimizes the strength for vineyard care.
Dobrynya
A variety of Russian selection, which is distinguished by an early ripening period (115 days), transportability of fruits and their suitability for winemaking. Harvested in mid-August. The leaves are medium, 5-lobed, the edges are bent up.
Bunches are small, cylindrical. The berries are small, black. The pulp is firm and juicy. The yield indicator is high. This is a high-frost resistant variety - tolerates cold up to -35 ° C, does not require additional shelter, and winter well in the snow. The plant is immune to phylloxera, mildew and oidium.
August
A variety of early-medium ripening period (128-130 days). A bunch of small size (110-120 g), conical, loose. The berries are small (1.3 g), dark blue.
The pulp is fleshy with a faint nutmeg aroma. The plant can withstand frosts down to -25 ° C, can be grown as a non-covering crop. Grapes are medium resistant to diseases and pests.
Odessa black
Very late ripening variety (160-165 days). They are covered with medium-sized rounded leaves with 3 or 5 lobes. The cluster is medium in size, conical, and loose.
The berries are small, round, dark blue with a strong waxy coating. Productivity is high. The variety is relatively resistant to gray rot and oidium. It is characterized by increased winter hardiness, but provided that in the fall there were favorable weather conditions, and the vine managed to ripen.
What makes wine grapes different?
Wine, if desired, can be made from any grape. However, it is the variety that determines the bouquet, color and taste of the drink. To obtain high-quality wines using technical grape varieties, or, as they are also called, wine. Compared to table grapes, they have clusters of a more modest size. The berries are very juicy, but small or medium in size.
The juice content in them reaches 75-85% of the total mass. Depending on the ratio of sugars and acids in the pulp, different types of wines are obtained from them - dry, sparkling, dessert. In technical varieties, the sugar concentration reaches more than 18%, and there should also be a lot of coloring and extractive substances. They affect the richness of the wine and determine its aromatic bouquet and color.
Sort tables by criteria
The table below shows the grape varieties with the main characteristics and an indication of the region most favorable for the cultivation of a particular variety:
Name | View | Growing region | Berry color | Ripening period | Frost resistance, C ° | Disease immunity | Yield |
August | technical | North Caucasian | Navy blue | early middle | up to -26 | middle | high |
Aligote | technical | Krasnodar region | greenish white | early middle | average | low | high |
Biyanka | technical | North Caucasian | yellow green | early | up to -27 | high except for anthracnose | high |
friendship | universal | suitable for growing in all regions | white | early | up to -23 | middle | average |
Crystal | technical | North Caucasian | white or yellow-green | very early | to -35 | tall | high |
Mourvedre | technical | North Caucasian | blue-black | late | average | middle | low |
Nutmeg white | technical | Southern regions | golden | early middle | low | middle | low |
Odessa black | technical | North Caucasian | blue-black | very late | increased | middle | average |
Saperavi | technical | Southern regions | dark blue | very late | average | middle | low |
Shasla white | dining room | Krasnodar region | yellow-green | early | high | low | low |
Elite grape varieties with the main characteristics:
Name | Country of origin | Wine variety | Ripening period | Yield | Frost resistance | Disease resistance |
Cabernet Sauvignon | France | red | late maturing | average | increased | high |
Carmenere | France | red | middle | high | low | average |
Merlot | France | red | mid-late | high | average | below average |
Pinot blanc | France | white | middle | low | high | low |
Pinot Noir | France | red | late | low | average | average |
Riesling | Germany | white | late | unstable | up to -20 | low |
Sangiovese | Italy | red | mid-late | average | low | average |
Syrah | France | red | middle | low | high | average |
Sauvignon Blanc | France | white | middle | below average | low | low |
Chardonnay | France | white | middle | above average | average | low |
Choosing a variety for making wine is not easy. After all, each copy has its own unique taste, aroma and color. Our article will help you make your choice and grow exactly the variety that suits you for the main characteristics.