vinifera grape

- common European grape cultivated in many varieties; chief source of Old World wine and table grapes

The grapevine Vitis vinifera originally native to east Asia is now the most common cultivated species around the world. There are over 10,000 varieties. Yet only around 200 are recorded as been significant. The most important part of the vines cycle is the process of ripening. When the juice for the wine is created. Once veraison occurs ( stage at which the grape's skin turns black, or translucent for white) The vine has enough reserve sugar. It goes into the grape and is converted to alcohol thus grape juice can be made into wine.

This too is the key period for the acidity and variouss compounds to develop. Developing grapes are high in acidity but lessen as they ripen. Tannins also increase at this time.

Red Grape Varieties include

Barbera

Cabernet Franc

Gamay

Grenache

Lambrusco

Malbec

Nebbiolo

Petit verdot

Pinotage

Pinot Meunier

Pinot Noir

Sangiovese

Syrah/shiraz

Zinfandel

Whites Includes

Chardonnay

Chenin Blanc

Gewürztraminer

Muller- thurgay

Pinot blanc

Pinot gris

Riesling

Sauvignon grape

Sauvignon Blanc

Semillion

Trebbiano

Viognier

Hybrid grapes are grape varieties that are the product of a crossing of two or more Vitis species.

Due to their often excellent tolerance to powdery mildew, other fungal diseases, nematodes, and phylloxera, hybrid varieties have, to some extent, become a renewed focus for European breeding programs. The recently developed varieties, Rondo, and Regent are examples of newer hybrid grape varieties for European viticulturalists. Several North American breeding programs, such as those at Cornell and the University of Minnesota, focus exclusively on hybrid grapes, with active and successful programs, having created hundreds if not thousands of new varieties. Hybrids allow the colder regions to grow vines.

These include

Alexander

Baco Noir

Chancellor

Chelois

L'Acadie blanc A Nova Scotia favourite

Frontenac

Prairie Star

Please see Grape Varietal

 

Wineries of Canada

 

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