White grapes

Grapes are a multipurpose horticultural product that is eaten fresh, and is also used as a raw material for the production of wines, culinary dishes, juices, and vinegar. Numerous varieties of white grapes sometimes differ significantly from each other in their appearance and taste characteristics, as well as their intended purpose. White grapes in all their variety of varieties are a versatile variety, suitable for fresh consumption, as well as for the manufacture of various drinks and dishes. This article will focus on the most popular white grape varieties, their positive and negative qualities.

White grape varieties - distinctive features

white grape varieties

Despite the name, white grapes refer to varieties that yield white, green and yellow fruits. The yellow and green varieties refer to the white grape as its subspecies. White grapes can be divided into two large groups - dining and technical.

The first group is suitable for fresh consumption, the second is intended for processing in order to prepare wines and other products. There are universal varieties, and most table varieties may well act as raw materials.

In turn, berries of technical varieties in their bulk can be eaten fresh. However, experts prefer to separate these two groups.

White grapes are found throughout the world and are more popular than the pink, black and red varieties. This is largely due to its rich composition, which includes an impressive array of vitamins, minerals, organic acids, and antioxidants.

It also contains essential oils. The energy value of white grapes is about 60 kilocalories per 100 g of product, but it can vary significantly depending on the sugar content in the fruits of a particular variety.

1 kilogram of white grapes contains the daily amount of trace elements necessary for humans.

White grapes: description of the variety. Favorites among white grape varieties

White grapes have about 8 thousand varieties, among which a number of varieties stand out for their characteristics. Here are the established favorites:

1. Ukrainian white grape variety "Arcadia Pink", Also called" Nastya ", refers to hybrid table varieties and was bred in Odessa. It is widespread due to its hardy nature.

"Arcadia Rose" ripens quite early. In the southern regions, harvesting is possible from the second half of July. One of its advantages is self-pollination. Due to the presence of bisexual inflorescences, it does not need pollinating insects.

Dense, voluminous brushes are cylindrical in shape and can weigh about one and a half kilograms each. The fruits resemble an oval in shape, pointed at one end, and are distinguished by their softness and sweet nutmeg taste of juicy pulp.

white grape varieties

2. Another worthy representative of white grapes is the “Mascot“, Sometimes also referred to as“ Kesha Muscat ”or“ Super Kesha ”. Like the previous variety, it belongs to the mid-early ripening hybrid varieties.

"Talisman" forms large, not very dense brushes weighing about 1.1 kg, cone-shaped, well tolerated transportation.

Its undoubted advantages include the sweet taste and rich aroma of berries, as well as the ability to withstand temperatures as low as -25 degrees. The only difficulty in cultivating it is the need for artificial pollination to increase the yield.

3. The recognized favorite among the technical varieties of white grapes is the superearly variety. "White Muscat"... It is very popular and appreciated all over the world due to its amazing taste.

From it, raw materials are obtained for the manufacture of wines, both table and dessert, as well as juices. The variety forms medium-sized cylindrical brushes weighing from 100 to 450 g. Despite the modest size of the brushes, the fruits of "White Muscat" have an incomparable aroma and a very sweet taste.

The disadvantages of this variety include low resistance to frost and disease, as well as a tendency to peas.

4. French variety "Aligote“, Which does not have a bright taste and aroma, for more than 3 centuries continues to lead among technical varieties of white grapes due to the increased content of juice in its fruits (about 78%) and excellent chemical composition, ideal for raw material use.

Outwardly, this variety of white grapes is unremarkable: small (only slightly more than 100 g in weight) clusters are formed from small berries of a yellowish-green hue, covered with brown specks.

The ripening period is just over 4 months. From 1 hectare can be harvested from 90 to 140 centners of grapes. This variety is not resistant to frost and diseases, and also does not store for a very long time and does not tolerate transportation well.

5. Somewhat similar indicators are given by another technically white grape variety - “Chardonnay". Its pale green berries are collected in miniature clusters that weigh less than 100 g. From 1 hectare, you can get only 70 centners of Chardonnay grapes. In many ways, the modest volume of the harvest explains its value.

Despite the nondescript appearance, the fruits of this variety have an ideal chemical composition and taste for wine production. Like Aligote, the Chardonnay variety is characterized by poor tolerance to diseases and low temperatures, as well as a tendency to early bud formation.

Despite the fact that many varieties of white grapes are unpretentious in nature, the choice of a place for their cultivation directly affects the quality and volume of the harvest, since unfavorable cultivation conditions can harm even weather-resistant varieties.

Group of table varieties with seeds

The fruits of table varieties of white grapes are intended for fresh consumption. They can be divided into two groups - according to the presence of seeds in them. An indispensable feature of table grapes is a sweet and pleasant taste. Otherwise, it cannot be attributed to this group of varieties.

These varieties of table white grapes include the following varieties:

1. Variety "White CoKl " was bred as a result of the joint efforts of Russian and Ukrainian breeders. This variety belongs to the early, ripening period is just over 4 months. Its advantages include the ability to self-pollinate due to the presence of bisexual flowers.

Conical brushes can weigh about 0.6 kg, and the berries that make them oval - from 12 to 14 g. They have a light green color and a translucent skin with a brown tint.

The fruit has a sweet and delicate flavor. "White CoKl" tolerates frosts down to -24 degrees, and also has a strong immune system. But this species cannot boast of drought resistance.

2. Early Bulgarian variety "Pleven Stable»Is also capable of self-pollination. Not very dense clusters weigh from 0.5 to 1 kg, the average fruit weight is about 8 g. The juicy pulp has a very sweet taste (sugar content - 20%) and a pleasant aroma.

From each bush, on average, it is possible to collect about 0.6 centners of the crop, and 140 centners from a hectare.The variety is distinguished by a high percentage of seedlings survival rate (9 out of 10 young plants successfully adapt after transplanting), the ability to winter safely in frosts down to -25 degrees.

Other advantages are strong immunity, no tendency to peas. Among the shortcomings, it is worth noting the vulnerability of the variety to some types of diseases.

3. White grape variety "Delight»Is known for his voluminous, tapered brushes weighing up to 2 kg. The grapes of this variety ripen within 3 months, which allows it to be attributed to the early varieties.

Juicy, dense, oval-shaped berries are covered with a delicate skin, which, meanwhile, is able to tolerate transportation without damage. From 1 hectare of plantings of this variety, up to 140 centners of the crop can be harvested.

Along with large volumes of harvest, the advantages of the "Delight" variety are its high degree of resistance to frost and diseases. Weak points are considered to be the average rooting rate of cuttings, as well as vulnerability to the attack of the grape aphid - phylloxera.

4. Hybrid white grape variety "White miracle"Is sometimes found under the name" Song ". This variety is very popular among Russian and Ukrainian gardeners, since it is distinguished by its ability to survive temperature drops in winter to - 25 degrees without any shelter.

The White Miracle ripens early enough - less than 4 months. Low grape bushes produce loose clusters weighing up to 0.9 kg, formed from large, very sweet berries containing only 2 seeds.

Ripening, they can persist for a long time on the vine. This variety is not susceptible to common diseases.

5. An early white grape variety "Tuzlovsky giant"Got its name for a reason: the weight of its not very dense hands averages 0.7 kg, but can reach 1.5 kg. The weight of rounded fruits, covered with a waxy bloom, averages 7-10 g.

Their juicy pulp is distinguished by a balanced taste and bright aroma. The weakness of the "Tuzlovsky giant" is its instability to frost. When the temperature drops to -22 degrees, it needs insulation and shelter.

Other well-known seedless table varieties of white grapes are Valentina, Irinka, Olga, "Bazhena", "Elegant", "Pearl Sabo", "Beauty of the North", etc. A common feature of most table grape varieties is their exactingness to growing conditions and care procedures.

Table seedless white grapes, photo

Seedless white grapes are very popular, which is why more and more new varieties are being developed recently. As a rule, these are table varieties with very sweet fruits, since breeders specially bred them to be the most convenient for fresh consumption.

1. Central Asian variety "Husain"Among domestic gardeners is better known under the name" Ladies fingers ". It has an average fruit ripening period and is capable of self-pollination due to the presence of bisexual inflorescences.

Loose clusters weigh on average about 0.4 kg and consist of oval berries, covered with a skin with a light bloom, under which a very sweet and aromatic pulp is hidden.

With all its amazing taste characteristics, the "Ladies fingers" variety has a number of significant drawbacks. It does not tolerate severe frosts, prolonged dry periods, and also has almost no immunity to diseases.

2. Another widely known variety of white table grapes, which came from Central Asia, is called “Kishmish White«.

Its sweet taste and lack of seeds make it a popular treat. However, nutritionists warn about the dangers of excessive consumption of fruits of this variety in food due to the high percentage of sugar in its composition.

Despite the fact that White Kishmish is considered a table variety, it is often used as a raw material for making wines and other products.The variety belongs to the mid-season and self-pollinated varieties of white grapes.

Bulky cylindrical brushes usually weigh 0.25 kg. The fruits are usually small to medium in size, with a fragrant, tender pulp.

3. White grape variety "Century»Matures within almost 5 months and brings large brushes weighing up to 2 kg. Oval-shaped fruits weigh on average about 10 g and at different stages of ripening are yellow or green in color.

Their unusual taste has a hint of tea rose and nutmeg aroma. Berries should be picked immediately after they are fully ripe, since the brushes tend to crumble quickly. "Century" tolerates severe frosts down to -23 degrees.

Technical varieties

The purpose of growing technical varieties of white grapes is to use them as raw materials for the production of wines, juices, vinegar, and canned food.

1. Rhine white grape “Riesling"Is considered one of the most famous technical varieties and is even sometimes referred to as the" king of the vineyard. " This mid-season variety forms small clusters weighing about 0.1 kg, consisting of medium-sized fruits weighing up to 3 g, having the shape of a ball.

Despite their modest size, they contain a lot of sugar (up to 22%) and have a bright aroma. When processed from the berries of this variety of white grapes, refined wines with a rich exquisite bouquet are obtained.

The unpretentious "Riesling" is resistant to severe frosts (-26 degrees), but vulnerable to damage by some fungal diseases, for example, powdery mildew.

2. Variety of technical white grapes of Hungarian origin "Crystal"Matures within 3 months. Its rounded clusters weighing about 0.2 kg are formed from almost white berries.

The unpretentious nature of this variety allows it to withstand severe frosts, and also makes it resistant to diseases such as gray rot. The weak points of the Kristall variety include vulnerability to powdery mildew, a tendency to shedding clusters, and the need for a competent lighting regime.

3. Variety "Sylvaner“, Sometimes called“ Large Riesling ”, has a Central European origin. Its ripening period is a little less than 5 months. Rather dense clusters weighing from 0.9 to 1.1 kg are formed on the bushes.

Small fruits resemble deformed balls of a pale green hue, covered with brown spots. "Sylvaner" is distinguished by a small number of seeds (as a rule, there are two of them) and a large harvest.

Due to the average resistance to diseases, the grapes of this variety need regular preventive treatment.

Other popular technical varieties of white grapes are the Kakhetian variety "Rkatsiteli", the French "Small Sauternes", better known as "Sauvignon", "Pinot White".

The German "Rivaner", also called "Müller-Thurgau", was obtained by crossing two well-known varieties - "Riesling" and "Silvaner".

If for table varieties of white grapes the defining indicator is the taste and aroma of the fruit, and the absence of seeds significantly increases their popularity, then the main characteristic of technical varieties is considered to be a rich harvest.