Tag Archives: Grapes

Red Grapes Are Not Just For Jelly!

Red Grapes Are Not Just For Jelly!

As a continuation to, “White Grapes are as Different as Apples as well as Oranges,” red grapes are quite the same. Often it is unsubstantiated that one little piece of fruit can differ so much. Although there are lots upon loads of selections of red grape, the complying with is a brief list of just what I really feel are the major red varieties.

Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir comes from Wine red but can additionally call areas such as Tasmania as well as New Zealand residence and is typically thought about to be the lightest of all the red grape ranges. Flavours as well as aromas once again could vary yet normally are similar to raspberry and also strawberry while having spicy as well as earthy scents. Since of the range of flavours as well as scents that could be created from Pinot Noir, it is essential to ask a merchant when first getting associated with this range since as easy it is to have a sensational container it is equally as simple to have a container that would provide you nightmares. It is additionally important to remember that although Pinot Noir is a reduced yielding variety it is not always essential to spend a great deal of loan to obtain a good bottle of wine you just should recognize what to seek (which is where asking enters into play if you are not sure of a particular region or vineyard).

Shiraz/Syrah

Equally As Pinot Grigio as well as Pinot Gris are basically the very same, Shiraz and also Syrah are basically the same with the differences lying only in their designs and also beginnings. Syrah has much extra seasoning and also be a leaner as well as sophisticated Old Globe design grape while its sibling Shiraz is a fruitier and also even more oaky New World star. Syrah has features that range from plum to redcurrants with a great deal of seasoning while Shiraz is a rich as well as extreme wine that will advise you of raspberry, cedar and also planet. Both are quite intense in their very own right and often need an acquired preference for strong, effective fruity and spicy wines to be fully valued.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon is a belonging to France’s Bordeaux area as well as in addition to being among the very best established in grape expanding areas around the globe, it is also thought about by numerous (including myself) the leader of merlots. This is additionally partially because of their thick skins and also high level of acidity having created some of the very best and oldest red wines around. Having an amazing global appeal, Cabernet Sauvignon has a variety of flavours and also aromas. These scents can vary from leather and also mint to fruity such as cherry and also plum as well as contribute to the “full body” sensation that this wine is known for.

Red wine

A popular wine, Red wine usually runs neck in neck with that said of Cabernet Sauvignon. Merlot is grown all over the globe including countries such as Australia and also America with it’s beginnings in France. With flavours that could be undecided between light-weight and also average bodied, Merlots flavours tend to teem with plum fruit flavours with little tannin. Among the extra drinkable varieties, Merlot is a quick favourite with individuals that are simply begun to get a preference for red wine.

Zinfandel

Maybe not as big in numerous components of the world it could absolutely be claimed that Zinfandel (also known as Zin) has found it’s employing the United States where in the Napa Valley it has actually had huge success in creating some amazing wines. Zinfandels are recognized to produce wines varying from light bodied to full on power homes to sweet treat wines and also ports. A fact that many individuals are beginning to familiarize is that Zinfandel and also Primitivo from Italy are not different selections but in truth are twins.

While there are much more varieties of red grape that were not touched after such as Tempranillo, Grenache and Pinot Meunier, the above list hopefully will drop some light on the many selections of red grapes that are utilized to generate wine as also a fundamental knowledge of grapes will substantially boost your capacity to understand and also appreciate a container of wine.

Growing Grapes For Wine – Healthy Grape Vines For a Great Wine

If you are a gardening enthusiast or a wine lover, growing grapes for wine may be an exciting activity for you. Making your own wine is indeed a good idea. You must remember though your backyard grapes may not be the variety that is great for wine making, thus if you want to venture into growing grapes for wine, here are some important tips that you may consider.

Choosing your wine grape

One main factor in making best wines, of course, is having the best quality of grapes. The variety of your grape vines should be the first consideration. Choose a type that is great for wine making and pick a variety that can thrive well with the climatic condition of your area. Most often, grapes grown healthily on areas with hot and dry summer and mild winters, as very low temperatures during winter can kill the grape vines.

Choosing your location

Make sure to choose a location that there is plenty of sun. This will in the proper ripening of the fruits that will contribute also to the taste of your wine. Other major considerations to take note in growing grapes for wine making include the soil, the topography, the fertilizers and the climatic conditions of your area. Planting your grape vines can also be done in slopes because these areas have good drainage and prevent the roots to be soaked with too much in water and that can freeze in winter. Slopes facing south are the best locations that you can get for growing grapes for wine as these areas will sure get good sunshine for your wine grapes. Bathing your vines with good sunlight helps a lot in the formation of sugars in fruits that become alcohol after fermentation. Beware of low lying areas too as these are prone to frosts that can damage your vines.

Disease and Pest Control

Like any other crop, growing grapes also involves monitoring especially for possible attack of pests and diseases. You can make use of pest attractants to drive pests away from the fruits. At mid summer when the fruits begin to swell and ripen, birds also begin to peck on the fruits, thus, before everything will be gone, you can put nets over the vines to stop them from feeding on the fruits. A gardening net would be a great one for this purpose.

Pruning for better fruits

Pruning your grape vines is also a factor that you should consider in growing grapes for wine, as this affects the production of good quality fruits. Pruning will help balance the production of fruits and prevent overbearing, which can lead to poor fruit quality. Aside from getting rid of messy vines, pruning also allows sunlight to nourish the vines well and helps maintain disease-free vines.

Harvesting your grapes

Harvesting the fruits at the right time is also important in growing grapes for wine making. It is not just enough also to look at the color of the fruits to determine if it is in its right ripeness for harvesting. Tasting the grapes is recommended. You can start harvesting your grapes if the seeds are dark or brownish and if the sugar level is just right. You can also make use of hydrometer to help you determine the sugar content of the grapes and if it is already right for harvesting.

Wine Grapes for Growing

When it comes to varieties of wine grapes for growing, it would take an enormous  amount of time. So, let’s look at just a few of the most popular.

Black Spanish Southern Wine Grapes:  This grape is juicy with a blackish-blue skin. This grape is good for making juice, jelly or wine. The vine is a great producer that is resistant to Pierce Disease and mildew. This grape is more suited for hot climates. The wine is similar to a Merlot or Cabernet wine. The grapes usually ripen in August to September

Blanc du Bois Wine Grapes: This grape is best suited for hot climates. This is an award-winning cultivar that makes excellent premium white wine. This grape is very resistant to Pierce disease.

Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Grapes: This grape is a small, round black renowned red wine producer. The fruit ripens in late September to October and can be grown in fairly cold to hot climates (not cold).

Champagne Wine Grape:  This is a tiny grape also known as Black Corinth. The plant is suited mostly for hot climates.

Champanel Wine Grape: This grape can be used as a table grape or a wine grape. The plant is suited mostly for hot humid climates. The plant is resistant to heat and drought and also resistant to Pierce disease. This vine produces large, loose clusters of grapes. The fruit usually ripens in early July.

Chardonnay Wine Grapes: This vine produces a small round grape with a green skin. This grape is primarily used for making white wine. The fruit is usually harvested in late September through early October. This plant will grow in cold to hot climates.

Pinot Noir Wine Grape: This grape is a variety of the famous Burgandy wine region in Northern France.  Some growers say the vine is finicky to grow. This vine grows best in cool to hot climates.

Sauvignon Blanc Wine Grape: This variety is used to make quality white table wines. The fruit is small, well formed in compact clusters and has a greenish color. This grape may produce a natural sweet wine. The plant ripens in mid-August to early September and likes cool to hot climates.

Merlot Wine Grape:  The fruit grows in medium to large cluster. The grapes are medium sized, round bluish-black and ripens in late September to early October. This grape prefers cool to hot climates.

Pinot Gris Wine Grapes: This grape makes a low acid, white wine of exceptional color and taste. The flavor has been described as having a pear and spice cake flavor. The vine is also known as the Pinot Grigio which is thought to be a clone of the Pinot Noir. The fruit is a deep yellow to a copper color. The flavor will depend on the region it is grown in. The vines prefer  cool to hot tempetures.

Zinfandel Wine Grape:  The plant produces a purple to black colored grape. The fruit is juicy and medium size with a round shape. The grapes ripen in August and grow well in cool to hot climates.

This is just eleven of thousands of grape varieties. Therefore, you should check with the agriculture department in your area to find out what type of grape will grow best in your climate.

Happy grape growing,

S. S. Barnett

More Merlot Wine Articles

White Wine Grapes Guide

Grapes used to make white wine produce an array of flavors and colors, with colors ranging from clear to a golden yellow as the wine ages. Since different climates affect the flavors of the grapes, different regions produce drastically different wines.

In extremely warm regions, the grapes become less acidic and the color of the wine tends to be more golden yellow. In temperate climates, there is more of a balance of acidity and also sweetness in the wine. Cool climates produce more acidic wines where the crop is prone to frost damage if not picked within the season. Chardonnay is perhaps the most well-known grape.

It is grown throughout wine producing regions of the world, but originated in Burgundy. The wine is typically light golden in color with melon and tropical flavors emerging in the wine. Riesling grapes produce a lighter bodied wine than Chardonnay and wine made from this grape usually is sweeter and has a flowery aroma. Sauvignon Blanc is a grape predominately found in France’s Loire Valley. It is a lighter wine that is often paired with a variety of food, including fish and poultry.

Pinot Blanc is a crisp wine that is sometimes made into sparkling wine in France. Champagne is the famous sparkling wine from the French region of Champagne. Only wines produced in this region can legally be called Champagne under a Protected Designation of Origin status.

Chardonnay grapes are most often used in making champagne, but blends with Pinot Noir are not uncommon. White wine grapes produce wine that is lower in tannins then red wine, since the wine is produced with minimal contact of the juice with the grape skins and seeds. The absence of the dry and intense flavor from high amounts of tannins make white wine easier for wine novices to begin tasting and enjoying wine.

Growing Wine Grapes

While growing wine grapes, the basic thing to remember is that each grape variety is unique in its own way with its own distinct flavor and characteristics. Grapes from the Vitis vinifera family are the most commonly used variety of grapes used for wine making. Usually this variety is found in Europe but there are varieties that are abundant in North America as well. The Vitis Labrusca is another popular variety and is commonly found in eastern parts of United States and Canada.

Success in growing wine grapes largely depends on suitable climatic conditions and the variety of vine you choose. These are the most important factors in growing wine grapes which ultimately decide the quality of grapes. Extreme climatic conditions may destroy the whole crop and it cannot be imagined how destructive it can be. Under ideal conditions such a variety should be chosen which ripens during the cooler temperatures instead of summers.

Though soil condition is important for any type of vineyard, they can still be manipulated by adding fertilizers and minerals. The most important thing is to provide necessary mineral content to the roots. You need to test the soil and see if it is free of toxic mineral content. Irrigation channels can be provided so as to make sure that that there is enough soil moisture level.

However, climatic conditions cannot be changed and the only way you can probably provide somewhat better climatic condition is by application of greenhouse transplant. So make sure that the fruit varieties you choose have a proven track record of growing properly in the climatic zone you wish and desire to grow your wine grapes. This will help you greatly in improving your chances of an excellent harvest of grape wine.

It may so happen that you don’t have an alternative. However, in case you are successful in choosing your area for growing wine grapes, care should be taken to avoid such areas where there are very low winter and spring temperatures. Moreover you should also avoid such areas where there is frequent or excessive change in temperatures or there are early frost fall.

Avoid Vine Direction Disasters

Since frost plays a very destructive role in growing wine grapes, you should see to it that you don’t choose lowlands for cultivation since these are the areas where frost hits the hardest. Usually frost settles in these areas first and remains there for a long time. For growing grape wines it is better to choose slopes facing south as there is a bit more sunshine. In areas of high rainfall slopes facing east are better as the rising sun dries the slopes faster. This helps in reducing diseases caused due to accumulation of moisture.

Three crucial factors are to be kept in mind while speaking about climate:

The climate of the region: this includes humidity and temperature range.
The climate of the site: includes drainage and slope.
The climate of grape vine: includes environment within a specified area like a cluster and canopy.

The place you choose should have a long growing season so that vines properly mature. It means that there should be enough sunlight while the fruit ripens because sunlight is most essential while the fruit ripens.

Though it may seem as if there are a number of things to consider, be assured that the plant needs your attention not just once. After they are put in the ground the grape plants only need pruning from time to time. You should be able to find out the right place for growing wine grapes. Though it may take some time, but once you have found it, half the task is done. The next step is to choose a grape variety that suites that particular climatic condition. You can also ask for expert guidance from experienced grape and vineyard growers which would take you to the path of success.