Grape variety Rodina: general description. Are grapes a fruit or a berry? grape vine

Table grape varieties are most in demand by gardeners, a beautiful bunch, tasty berries make them attractive to culture lovers. The Rodina variety is an excellent copy of this group, which you should pay attention to and plant on your site.

Variety Rodina is a crossed hybrid of the North and Muscat of Alexandria.

Variety features

The hybrid variety Rodina was bred by domestic breeders in the GNU VNIIViV named after V.I. ME AND. Potapenko, represents a successful combination of the qualities of the parent varieties Severny and Muscat of Alexandria, but does not have a nutmeg taste. Belongs to the group of table varieties, its berries are consumed fresh.

It is intended for cultivation in the southern regions of Russia, in the Far East, it can also be cultivated in the central regions.

The frost resistance of the variety is average, tolerates warm winters well, withstands frosts down to -20 degrees Celsius.

The bush is not too tall, the culture belongs to a medium-sized and low-growing species, half or 64% of the shoots of the first year of life ripen during the season. 70% of them will bear fruit. It blooms in the first decade of June, the flowers of the hybrid have signs of both sexes, this bush does not require an additional pollinator. The berries will ripen by mid-September, from the time the first buds bloom to full ripening, about 120 days will pass. Although they say that the Rodina variety is early, its ripening time is approaching mid-ripening species.

Grape leaves of medium size, five-pointed, finely cut. The outer side is matte, reticulate-wrinkled, glabrous below with small setae located along the veins.

Fruit

The length of the cone-shaped elongated bunch is about 19 cm, the base diameter is up to 12 cm, their weight is medium and large ranging from 190 to 380 g. The berries are pressed tightly in it, but it also happens that they are located more freely.

Ripe fruits are round, dark purple with a reddish tint and a bluish bloom, their skin is thin, but quite dense. Bones are located inside, their number usually does not exceed 3 pcs. The size of the berries is average, reaches 5 g. Crushing and lack of seeds can be when the bush is overloaded with a crop. This happens if at the time of flowering and fruit set there are adverse weather conditions.

The taste of the variety harmoniously combines moderate acidity (1%) and sweetness (18%), this gives the berries a pleasant flavor bouquet, for which the variety is recognized by gardeners. According to experts, the grapes received a high score of 8 points on a 10 point scale.

Productivity. Pros and cons of the variety

Despite the fact that the vine is not too big, up to 7 kg of bunches are harvested from one bush. When there are several bushes, with 10 m / kV, then this is already 22 kg. But this is not always the case, in unfavorable years, the yield drops sharply. For example, up to 220 centners are harvested per hectare during harvest periods, and in a lean year, one has to be content with 14 centners.

Undoubtedly, the variety deserves attention: relatively early ripening and excellent taste make it attractive to gardeners. But the description will be incomplete, if not to say about the cons. Breeders failed to rid him of the shortcomings inherent in many types of this culture:

• Ripe berries are very juicy, sometimes prone to cracking, so their transportation over long distances is impossible.
• Sweet fruits attract insects, they are very fond of wasps. In years when the pest is too much, the bushes will have to be protected, otherwise the predatory sweet tooth will damage the crop.
• The vine is demanding for preventive treatment against gray rot and downy mildew.

Diseases

It is rare that a variety of grapes is able to resist diseases. The Motherland is no exception:

• It is 20% susceptible to a fungal infection - gray rot. This dangerous and common disease affects the green parts of the vine, berries and annual shoots.
• Mildew and powdery mildew are also dangerous for this variety, it covers foliage, flowers, young berries and vine whiskers.

Spraying grapes from pests, you can also fight diseases by mixing the appropriate preparations together.

To avoid the disease, it is necessary to regularly carry out preventive measures:

• The fungus infects the weakened parts of the bush, so all dead areas are removed immediately.
• Gray rot develops well in dampness, if it is also warm, heavenly conditions are created for it. The bush should be well blown, for this weeds that have poured branches are removed.
• In autumn, the remains of grass and fallen leaves are removed.
• It is recommended to stop using excess nitrogen fertilizer so that the bush does not actively grow, since young branches are most susceptible to fungus.
• Leaves growing below the clusters are removed at the beginning of September, they do not affect the supply of nutrients to the berries, but create the likelihood of the spread of the fungus.
• Effective modern means in the fight against gray rot are Ronilan and Rovrala, it does not overload grape tissues with copper, so it does not accumulate in fruits.
• Anti-mildew preparations are also suitable, they are also effective for rot.
• If signs of fungus appear, spraying the bush is required every 14 days until August.

Recommendations for treating bushes with soapy water are ineffective, fungi tolerate even its high concentration. Soap can be recommended to be added to the solution so that a film impervious to spores is created on the leaves.

Care and landing

Table varieties are demanding for care, the quality and taste of the crop, the amount of sugar in fruits depend on it. You can take care of the Motherland in the same way as for other varieties of this group, with the exception of some nuances:

• This grape loves light, it should be planted in areas where there is a lot of sun.
• Well, if it will not be shaded by closely growing trees and bushes.
• It does not tolerate moisture well, so it is impossible to choose damp and wetlands for planting. It is better to give preference to moisture-permeable and nutritious soil, like chernozem or enriched loam.
• The variety reacts negatively to a delay in harvesting, if it is late, its winter hardiness decreases sharply, and even a warm winter can be fatal for many buds and young shoots.
• In order for the berries not to shrink in the conditions of a loaded bush, you can remove the extra ones from the bunch.
• When pruning a bush in the fall, no more than 3 or 4 buds should be left.

Landing

• When planting table grapes, in order to achieve the best result, follow some rules:
• You should buy seedlings only from a trusted seller, it’s good if they already have leaves, then you can see that the bush is alive, navigate the variety by the leaves.
• Plant them immediately after purchase so that the root does not dry out.
• The planting hole must be fertilized with complex fertilizer, the more fertile the soil, the better the survival rate.
• Seedlings are planted in a line, the distance between the bushes should not be less than one and a half or two meters.
• The first years the grapes must be loosened and weeded constantly.
• Thin roots that prevent the development of the main root are removed in the spring annually.
• Table varieties need to be watered at least 4 times per season.
• In order for the bush to grow and develop, complex fertilizer is required.

Wasp fighting

The main method of dealing with wasps in the vineyard around the world is the destruction of their colonies (nests).

With the ripening of grapes, there are more and more people who want to eat berries, sometimes nothing remains for the owner, who has put in a lot of work. Often, wasps attack shrubs, the juicy sweet berries of the Motherland are a delicacy for them, so a number of measures are required so that insects do not spoil the crop:

• On the grapes, you can hang tin or plastic cans of beer; an odorous alcoholic drink will distract insects.
• An effective method is to make traps hung near vines. Sugar or honey syrup is poured into them, pieces of fruit are applied, chlorophos or another insecticide is added.
• If there are few grape bushes, gauze bags will help protect the bunches. The method is effective, but very troublesome.

Ideally, it is better to destroy the wasp nests, then the insects will disappear from the garden and will not spoil the grapes.

It depends on the gardener to decide whether to breed the Rodina variety on his site or not, the description gives an idea of ​​\u200b\u200bits merits. If climatic conditions allow, it will be an excellent addition to the collection of various varieties and will delight you with a plentiful harvest and harmonious fruit taste. And prevention and quality care will negate the danger of diseases and pests.

Grapes are one of the oldest cultivated plants, whose picturesque images are reflected in the bas-reliefs and frescoes of the Ancient East 7 thousand years ago. A variety of varieties today allows every gardener to easily choose to his "taste and color". A clear knowledge of the characteristics of varietal grapes (color, taste, suitability for winemaking, frost resistance, ripening period, etc.) will help determine the preference.

The most popular for the backyard are table varieties. These grapes are eaten fresh. Attractive to gardeners, it is made by huge appetizing clusters, rich taste and delicious aroma. Table grapes are recommended as a healthy and curative product. One of the unique varieties is Rodina.

Variety Rodina is a crossed hybrid of the North and Muscat of Alexandria. The name is directly related to its origin. It was first obtained in our country, at the Research Institute of Viticulture and Winemaking. Potapenko Ya.I. It grows in the center and south of Russia, as well as in the Far East.

Winter hardiness is defined as average, able to withstand slight temperature drops on the soil.

A bush on height of the average size, growth average or weak. Annual shoots in percentage terms ripen by about 50 - 64%. Among them, fruitful, there are up to 70%.

The leaves of the Rodina variety are usually medium in size, rounded in shape and five lobed, finely cut. The outer side of the leaf is usually dull, wrinkled, and the inner side is almost bare, with small bristles near the veins.

The vine flower is bisexual. Flowering usually occurs in mid-June, on the tenth of the month.

Description of berries

Ripening occurs already in early September (the first decade), so it is classified as an early variety.

Clusters are usually medium in size, but closer to large. The weight of each bunch varies from 190 to 380 g. Its approximate parameters are as follows: length up to 19 cm, width at the base up to 12 cm. The shape of the bunch resembles a narrow cone. The density of berries on it is medium or dense. There is a possibility of crushing and the formation of seedless berries, which can be observed when overloading vine bushes or unsuitable weather conditions during flowering.

Grapes have a reddish berry with a purple hue, rounded. Muscat aroma is absent. Its weight can reach up to 5g. It is covered with a strong and at the same time thin skin. There are seeds, no more than 3. In a berry with an equal combination, there are sour and sweet shades, which gives it a harmonious taste. The content of useful substances in berries is as follows: soluble solids up to 18.5%, sugars up to 18%, acids up to 1%, vitamin C up to 20 mg per 100 g of substance.

yield

Differs in high productivity. If we consider the yield from one bush, then it will be up to 7 kg. In terms of area - from 10 to 22 kg per 10 sq.m. However, in different years grapes can bring different harvests. The variety can have yield fluctuations from 14 to 220 centners per hectare in different periods.

According to its tasting score, the Rodina variety reaches almost 8 points.

Diseases

Grapes are no exception and are prone to various diseases. The described variety is 20% susceptible to gray rot. Such a fungal disease can disable grapes, affecting the entire green part and annual wood. The causative agent of gray rot is especially dangerous when berries are affected. The Rodina variety can be infected with downy mildew. This fungal disease usually affects leaves, shoot tips, tendrils, inflorescences and young berries. The risk of getting this disease is about 10%.

Advantages and disadvantages

The undeniable advantages that attract gardeners to the choice of Rodina are early ripening and a very harmonious taste of berries. Among the shortcomings, one can note the facts that the grapes are not resistant to gray rot, due to the thin skin, the berries often crack when ripe, and during the years of the mass appearance of wasps, they can be severely damaged by these insects. Another disadvantage is that the variety is very poorly transportable.

To choose a Rodina variety or not for your summer cottage is an individual decision for everyone. All the listed characteristics should be carefully correlated with the conditions of a certain climatic zone and agrotechnical capabilities. In any case, this grape variety deserves attention. In addition, you should not be limited to one variety, but you can use a gardening trick and grow grapes of different ripening periods on the site, which will increase the use of fresh berries (from July to October).

For many centuries, grapes have attracted the attention of man, enjoyed his unchanging love and patronage, diligently cultivated in those parts of the globe where harsh natural conditions were not an obstacle to this.

There is no other plant to which so many poems, songs, folk proverbs, sayings and legends would be dedicated.

According to the biblical legend, during the global flood, all mankind died, except for Noah, his family and some animals, whom he prudently took with him into the ark. However, Noah became famous not only as the founder of a new human race. He gave us... grapes.

When Noah, after a long voyage, landed on his ark to Mount Ararat, he immediately released a goat ashore. For a long time traveling on water, the poor animal was exhausted due to the lack of normal food. Therefore, it is not surprising that the goat immediately went in search of food. And, lo and behold, I found food, and what a food! In the fields, damp from a recent flood, here and there grew a beautiful climbing shrub with succulent leaves. Having eaten enough of these leaves, the goat unexpectedly became very drunk and, returning back to the ark, began to jump up and down, make loud bleating sounds, and butt its brethren with its horns. Puzzled by such an unusual behavior of the animal, Noah became interested in a mysterious plant and decided to plant a small plantation of this shrub...

So, as the legend testifies, the cradle of grapes is Armenia. The same point of view is shared by many botanists who consider Transcaucasia and the countries of the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea to be the birthplace of the vine. From here it spread to the countries of Southern Europe, as well as to North Africa.

Grape seeds have been found in piled structures in Switzerland; grapes were cultivated in the Middle East 7000 - 9000 years ago. In Syria, Palestine, Asia Minor, Hellas, Egypt, grapes were grown from the beginning of settlement on these lands, that is, 3000 or 4000 years BC. e. Findings in ancient tombs and numerous monuments of Egyptian culture in Thebes, Benny Hassan and other places testify to this. A favorite motif of ancient Egyptian artists were wine amphoras. The process of making wine from grapes is described in detail on the tomb of the Egyptian pharaoh Ptahhotep, who lived 2500 BC. e.

In the distribution of grapes and the multiplication of the number of its varieties, a lot was done by ancient European civilization, in particular Rome, which adopted the culture of grapes from Ancient Hellas. From Rome viticulture penetrated the south of France and Spain. The vine was brought to Eastern Europe through the Crimea and the Black Sea region by ancient Greek settlers. It is interesting that a marble slab from the monument to one of the first winegrowers of the Crimea, Agasikl, has been preserved from those times in present-day Kherson. In the 5th century BC e. grapes were already widespread throughout Kievan Rus and on the territory of present-day Moldova.

Since ancient times, grapes have been divided into wine and table varieties. Grapes for wine in a number of countries are older than table grapes. However, wine varieties were not always held in high esteem and were often destroyed. Islam, which, as you know, strictly forbade the production of wine and the use of wine, was a particularly fierce opponent of them. However, as they say, there is no evil without good. The systematic destruction of wine varieties stimulated breeding work, which contributed to the emergence of a number of wonderful table grape varieties, including raisins (with seeds) and kishmish (seedless).

“The path of our life passes through grapes,” said the ancient Romans. And it is true. Not a single fruit has supported human life in the way that grapes have done for many centuries. Therefore, the plant and its fruits have always enjoyed unchanging respect among all peoples and at all times.

Today, the vineyards of the world cover an area of ​​over 10 million hectares. A tenth part falls on the share of Georgia, Armenia, Moldova, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. But today the vine is moving further north, and thanks to the efforts of amateur gardeners, it has even reached Moscow.

The grape family includes hundreds of species. Among the best table grapes are: Chasselas - berries are round, yellowish-green and pink (appreciated as a medicinal variety); Chaush - greenish-yellow berries; Muscat, Husayne, known as "lady fingers", Asma, Isabella, etc. You can also find wild species here. The most important of them is the Amur grape. It is widely distributed in Primorsky and Khabarovsk Territories in mixed forests, along mountain slopes and river banks. Its fruits are black, with a wax coating, and taste sour and sweet and sour. However, if wild species are absolutely unpretentious, then cultivated grape varieties require painstaking care. Therefore, when you feast on grapes, remember that a lot of human work has been invested in them.

Since ancient times, grapes have served man in the treatment of various diseases. Ancient physicians used the juice from unripe grape fruits as an antipyretic for high body temperature, for sore throats and mouth ulcers, and for hemoptysis. Grapes and grape juice in those days were also known as a diuretic, laxative and tonic. The ancients also often used dried grapes for diseases of the lungs, liver and kidneys. Grape leaves were used to treat wounds and skin diseases. Somewhat later, grape treatment began to be used for exhaustion, initial forms of tuberculosis, anemia, and some types of metabolic disorders.

The ancient traditions of grape treatment are fully accepted by modern medicine. However, unlike the ancients, modern doctors know the essence of the nutritional and healing properties of grapes. Therefore, grape treatment has now become more differentiated. So, for example, grapes are contraindicated in diabetes, obesity, stomach ulcers. Some people cannot tolerate grapes and grape juice due to food allergies. This is especially common in childhood. Well, as for everyone else, eat grapes to your health!

What is the use of grapes? The main component of grapes, which determines its nutritional value and taste, are sugars (from 12 to 32%), which are represented by glucose, fructose and sucrose. If we take the degree of sweetness of glucose as a unit, then the degree of sweetness of sucrose will be 1.45 times higher, and fructose - 2.2 times higher. Most grape varieties contain almost the same amount of glucose and fructose. There is little sucrose in grapes (up to 5.5%). Grape berry sugars are monosaccharides and, unlike the beet sugar (sucrose) we consume, they do not undergo significant transformations during digestion, they immediately enter the bloodstream, which is very important for a quick recovery of strength and human health.

Grapes contain from 2.5 to 6% free and bound (in the form of salts) organic acids: 60% malic, up to 40% tartaric, citric, succinic, etc. Free acids give the berries a sour taste. Many mineral salts and trace elements necessary for the human body were found in grapes, and above all potassium (an average of 250 mg per 100 g), iron, copper, manganese, zinc, etc. Trace elements are often structural elements of enzymes, hormones, vitamins, proteins and a number of important organic complexes.

Grape berries also contain most of the vitamins necessary for a person: ascorbic acid, carotene, B, B 2, dyes with P-vitamin activity, folic acid. There are also pectin substances - from 0.2 to 1.5%. There are also essential amino acids (lysine, histidine, arginine, methionine, leucine) and non-essential (cystine, glycine), which are actively involved in metabolism.

Fresh grapes, without any exaggeration, are among the best dessert fruits, and grape juice is certainly one of the healthiest and most delicious drinks. The use of grapes normalizes the composition of gastric juice, improves the absorption of food. Nutrients (mainly sugar) contained in 1 kg of berries give a person energy equal to 2930 - 3350 kJ, which is approximately 25 - 30% of the daily energy requirement of an adult. 1 kg of grapes in terms of energy value is equal to 227 g of bread, 387 g of meat, 1.1 kg of potatoes, 1105 g of milk. Grape juice is often called vegetable milk. It has medicinal and dietary properties.

Grape leaves, rich in ascorbic acid, are very useful in salads. In Transcaucasia, young grape leaves are used to make cabbage rolls. The leaves are preserved for the future and consumed all winter.

Know-It-All Recipes

Fruit and honey snack

Do you want to surprise your friends and adults? Then I advise you to prepare this appetizer. I'm sure everyone will like it.

For this dish, any fruit that is at home is suitable. In addition to them, you need honey.

Wash fruit thoroughly. Small fruits (grapes, strawberries) put in a jar as a whole. And cut large ones (apples, pears, peaches) first into pieces.

Now cover the fruits with honey, close the jar with a lid and put it in the refrigerator. After half an hour, an appetizer can be served at the table.

We invite you to the table

grape juice

Wash ripe, good-quality grapes, crush them in a saucepan with a wooden pestle. Squeeze juice with a press 2-3 times. Then combine together the juice from all pressings, strain, heat to 95 - 100 ° C, pour into bottles hot and cork. Pasteurize for 10-15 minutes at 85°C.

Grape punch

For 6 servings: grape juice - 1 cup, lemon - one piece, orange juice - 1/2 cup, granulated sugar - 1/2 cup, water - 1 cup, mineral water - 1 bottle, a small bunch of grapes.

Cook sugar syrup from granulated sugar and water. Then pour grape juice into it, squeeze lemon juice into it, add orange juice and leave for 2-3 hours. Pour in mineral water before serving. Before pouring the punch into glasses, put a few grapes in each glass.

Cocktail "Gifts of the South"

For 1 serving: grape juice - 2 teaspoons, industrial orange syrup - 1 tablespoon, lemon juice - 2 teaspoons, milk ice cream - 50 g, sparkling or mineral water (for example, narzan) - 1/2 cup.

Put ice cream in a mixer, pour in grape and lemon juices, orange syrup, carbonated or mineral water and beat for 1-2 minutes so that the mixture foams well. Serve the cocktail immediately.

Family: grape (Vitaceae).

Motherland

Various types of grapes come from Western Asia, the Mediterranean, Western Europe and North America.

The form: woody vine.

Description

Grapes - the name of a genus of perennial woody, reaching 20 meters in height. Clings to a support with the help of antennae. The leaves are rounded, up to 20 cm in diameter, three-, five- or seven-lobed. The flowers of the grapes are small, inconspicuous, fragrant, collected in an inflorescence-brush. The fruit of the grape is a berry of green, dark purple, almost black or pink color, sweet or sour-sweet in taste. The leaves of the vine turn a beautiful red in autumn. As a rule, grapes - a liana is very thermophilic, therefore, cultivated grapes in Russia, as a rule, are grown only in the southern regions. However, there are types of grapes suitable for growing in Central Russia.

(V. amurensis) is a fast growing dioecious deciduous liana. The leaves are large, dark green. The flowers are small, yellow, fragrant. The berries are rather small (up to 1 cm in diameter), with a dense black shell, sour or sweet and sour. If only female plants are planted, the berries will be even smaller, but they will all be pitted. Amur grapes are very winter-hardy. In nature, it is common in the Russian Far East. Able to withstand temperatures down to minus 40 degrees. It is possible to grow this northern grape in Central Russia and even colder regions.

(V. labrusca) is a fast-growing unpretentious type of grape. The foliage is dense, beautiful, the trunk is tall, powerful. Berries up to 2 cm in diameter, may be black, brownish or yellow-green. Winter hardiness down to minus 20 degrees. It can be grown in the southern regions of Russia.

forest grapes (V. silvestris) - shade-tolerant deciduous liana. Vine of grapes up to 20 meters long. Grapes are black, spherical. Drought-frost and disease-resistant, but not very decorative in Central Russia.

(V. vulpina) - shade-tolerant vine with a powerful trunk. The leaves are relatively small (up to 15 cm), entire or three-lobed. The berries are spherical, black, up to 1 cm in diameter. Frost resistance down to minus 28 degrees.

Common grape , or cultivated grapes (V. vinifera) - photophilous liana, has many cultural forms and varieties. The leaves are petiolate, alternate, entire, three- or five-lobed. Berries can be green, pink, red, black, depending on the shape and variety. Does not differ in frost resistance. Can be used for landscaping in the southern regions of Russia.

rocky grapes (V. rupestris) is the only type of grape that has the shape of a neat shrub up to 1.5 m high. There are practically no tendrils in rock grapes. The leaves are rounded, wide, serrated along the edge, less often with three barely outlined lobes. Berries are black or purple up to 1 cm in diameter. Rock grapes are a dioecious plant.

Growing conditions

Grapes - a plant is very demanding on the conditions of illumination and soil fertility. Most species are photophilous. Soils need rich, saturated nutrients.

Application

In ornamental gardening, grapes are used for. Very decorative and entwined with grapes. It should be remembered that the trellis for grapes in the country should be strong enough, since the woody trunk, growing, becomes very powerful and heavy. Wild grapes in the garden are good for decorating outbuildings, for creating shady ones. Clusters of grapes are very decorative against a background of bright green foliage.

Rocky grapes are used in group and single plantings on, as well as in combinations with others. It contrasts well with the breeds.

In addition, of course, the berries of many types of grapes are very tasty. They are used fresh, for the production of juices, jams, confectionery, vinegar and, of course, wine from grapes. Grape leaves in national cuisines are also used in cooking (for example, for making dolma).

The medicinal properties of grapes are also known.

Care

Cultivation of grapes requires careful observance of agricultural technology. At the beginning of summer, grapes should be fertilized with organic and mineral fertilizers. Watering the grapes is carried out once a month during the season, watered abundantly. It is desirable to soil in near-trunk circles immediately after planting grape seedlings, periodic loosening. grapes are carried out in spring and as they grow to form grapes.

The most crucial moment is the wintering of grapes. Vines of grapes for the winter are removed from the support and covered. It is possible to cover the grapes for the winter with a film, peat or spruce branches.

Uncovered cultivation of grapes in Russia is possible only in Dagestan and in the south of the Krasnodar Territory. Already the Stavropol and Rostov regions are considered zones of extreme viticulture, that is, in these regions, especially careful care of grapes is necessary, in addition, grapes require good shelter in winter.

Grape- a genus of climbing vines of the grape family. Thin, articulated structure, with nodes and internodes, its shoots reach 3-5 m in length. Each node develops leaves (simple, entire or lobed) of the next arrangement. Inflorescences are formed in the lower nodes of the shoots, on the higher ones - antennae, with the help of which the shoots are attached to natural (trees, stones) or artificially created supports.

Its fruits are berries collected in bunches and covered with a wax coating. In different varieties, they can vary in shape, size and color (white, yellowish, green of various shades, dark red, brownish, purple, blue-black, etc.).

In total, there are more than 70 types of grapes, but the most popular is cultivated grapes, which include most of the varieties used for food.

Origin

The exact place of origin of grapes is unclear, although it is known that they began to cultivate it already in the Copper and Bronze Ages. As early as 4000 BC. e. it was cultivated by the Egyptians, from whom it "passed" to the Phoenicians, then to the Greeks, from the Greeks to the Romans. During the time of Pliny the Elder, more than a hundred varieties were already grown in ancient Rome. The famous Bordeaux wines of France are descended from vines brought to Gaul by Julius Caesar.

Currently, grapes are grown mainly in the Northern Hemisphere, in areas of warm and temperate climates. In Europe, the northern border of open-field grape cultivation runs through Paris, Düsseldorf and Saratov.

Cultivated grapes entered Russia from the Balkans. For the first time, the second Russian Tsar of the Romanov dynasty, Alexei Mikhailovich, managed to grow grapes in Russia without a greenhouse, and this event took place not in the southern regions, but directly near Moscow, in the village of Izmailovo, beloved by the sovereign. His son, Peter the Great, continued his father's work and during the years of Peter's reign, grapes began to be widely cultivated on the Don and in the Astrakhan province, and giant greenhouses were built especially for him near Moscow and St. Petersburg. The grape greenhouses of the millionaire Demidov, erected on the banks of the Moscow River in 1756, were especially famous.

The nutritional value

The average calorie content of grapes is 65 kcal per 100 g (depending on the particular variety, it may vary). Grapes are called the champion in terms of the number of antioxidants they contain: it contains more than 20 of them. Acting in a complex way, they are able to stop the harmful effects of free radicals, which explains the rejuvenating effect of this fruit on the human body.

Grapes have no equal among other fruit and berry crops in terms of sugar accumulation (up to 30% in some varieties). It also contains acids (mainly tartaric and malic), pectin, tannins and dyes, essential oils, enzymes, B vitamins (especially a lot of B9, folic acid), K (phylloquinones), C, P-active compounds, carotene . Of the microelements contained in the pulp of berries, iron, manganese, copper, and potassium were found in effective amounts. Isabella grapes contain a rare element, rubidium, which is useful for hematopoiesis, but you should know that the usefulness of this variety does not extend to wines made from it. They have an increased methanol content, which is why this variety is banned in commercial winemaking in the United States and the European Union.

Application in cooking

Fresh grapes are one of the best dessert fruits. From fresh grapes, in combination with vegetables and fruits, they prepare salads and sweet sauces for meat dishes, cook jams and soups, and make desserts and jellies based on it. Pickled grapes are distinguished by a pleasant and peculiar taste. Grapes can also be subjected to rapid freezing: dark-colored - without syrup, and light-colored - in syrup.

Dried grapes are widely used both in the food industry and on the home table, especially raisins (large dried grapes, in contrast to small dried grapes - raisins). As you know, raisins are added to bakery and confectionery products, sweet cereals, pilafs, compotes, soups, omelettes and stuffing for dumplings. In cooking, young grape leaves are also used - in particular, for the preparation of cabbage rolls.

The role of grapes is also significant in the production of beverages: juice, syrup, compotes, wine. Most of the world's vineyards owe their existence to winemaking. The countries of traditional winemaking are France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Georgia.

Application in medicine and cosmetology

The ancient Greeks and Romans widely practiced ampelotherapy, that is, treatment with grapes (in fresh and processed form). Such treatment restores the strength of a weakened body, normalizes metabolism, flushes out bacteria and toxins from the body, reduces inflammation, strengthens the nervous system and immunity of the body as a whole. It is strongly recommended for exhaustion, anemia, tuberculosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, stress and depression.

It has been established that grapes have a stimulating effect on the bone marrow and improve blood formation processes. Red grapes are especially valuable in the fight against blood diseases, which contain a greater amount of antioxidants and, accordingly, improve blood composition to a greater extent.

Grapes are useful for various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, accompanied by reduced secretion of gastric juice, acute inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract, bronchial asthma and pleurisy, disorders of the cardiovascular system (tachycardia, hypertension, etc.), some liver diseases, manifestations of premenstrual syndrome. Grape skin, rich in ballast substances, eliminates digestive problems, intestinal atony and chronic constipation.

In cosmetology, grapes and its derivatives are used to create anti-aging and complexion-improving products. For combination skin, masks based on white grapes or white wine are well suited.

Contraindications

Grapes are contraindicated in people suffering from diabetes, obesity, peptic ulcer, enterocolitis, pronounced allergic reactions.

By taste, grape varieties are traditionally divided into 4 groups: ordinary (simple, neutral) grape taste, nutmeg taste, nightshade taste, isabelle taste (the taste of varieties of the Vitus labrusca L. species, a typical representative of which is the Isabella variety; has an aftertaste that simultaneously resembles the taste of strawberries and blackcurrant).

It is believed that dark-colored grape varieties are stored longer than light ones and contain more nutrients. In addition, varieties with thick skin and dense elastic pulp, which have loose ("disheveled") brushes, do not deteriorate longer. When choosing grapes, you need to pay attention to the integrity of the skin, the absence of cracks, pronounced damage, but you can ignore pigmentation, brown or reddish spots. An indicator of the freshness of the grapes can be a whitish translucent coating on the surface of the skin.

Sources:

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