Tag Archive for: warm climate

M. Fidelibus

Charbono

Charbono is an old French wine variety from Savoie where it is known as Corbeau or Douce noir. Currently is is most widely planted in Mendoza and San Juan, Argentina, under the name Bonarda, where it is mostly used for good-value wines. Trialed in the hot climate of the San Joaquin Valley, it produced moderate yields of good quality fruit, confirming its reputation as a heat tolerant variety. Useful clonal differences have been observed, particularly with respect to cluster compactness and ripening time, with FPS 4 being the earliest ripening, and with the least compact clusters.

syrah clusterM.W. Fidelibus

Syrah

Syrah is a famous Rhone variety that is now grown throughout the world, especially in Australia, where it is known as Shiraz, and is the most widely planted red wine variety in that country. Syrah is considered a versatile variety that can make good wine in a broad spectrum of climates. Syrah may be used to produce varietal table wines of distinct character in cooler districts and has also demonstrated high potential for red table wine production in warmer districts, including California’s Central Valley. Syrah berries tend to shrivel after ripening, and some Syrah selections have a non-infectious genetic syndrome that predisposes the vines to decline.

graciano clusterM.W. Fidelibus

Graciano

Graciano is a Spanish red wine grape of ancient origin and has been grown all around the Mediterranean under various synonyms. It is not particularly productive, due to low fertility, small clusters, and small berries, but there has been increased interest in this variety because its fruit quality potential is high, even when grown in warm or hot climates. Its acidity, tannins, and aroma are particularly notable.

Figure 1 Valley Pearl clusterM.W. Fidelibus

Valley Pearl

Valley Pearl is an early-season white-skinned table grape (Vitis vinifera L.), typically ripening in mid to late July in the San Joaquin Valley of California. This variety produces 1.3 lb conical-shaped clusters that are medium to well-filled. Berries are spherical in shape, with smooth pale green skin. Optimal berry size, 9 g, can be achieved with one application of GA3. Berries are large and sweet, with a neutral to slightly muscat flavor. Growers may expect >1,100 19-lb boxes of fruit per acre annually. Valley Pearl is patented and licensed exclusively to the California Table Grape Commission.

Figure 1 Scarlet Royal clusterM.W. Fidelibus

Scarlet Royal

Scarlet Royal is a mid-season red-skinned table grape (Vitis vinifera L.), typically ripening in mid to late August, in the San Joaquin Valley of California. This variety produces large (1.8 lb) conical-shaped clusters that are medium to well-filled (Hashim-Buckey and Ramming). Berries are oval in shape and of similar appearance to Crimson Seedless. Natural berry size is moderate to large for table grapes, 5-7 g, and generally color well naturally. Growers may expect 1,600 19-lb boxes of fruit per acre annually (Fidelibus et al., 2018). Scarlet Royal is patented and licensed exclusively to the California Table Grape Commission.

Figure 1 Segalin clusterM.W. Fidelibus

Ségalin

Ségalin is a red wine grape (Vitis vinifera L.) variety from France that was selected from a planned cross of the varieties Jurançon noir and Portugais made in 1957 by Paul Truel. Robinson et al. (2012) described the vines as having low vigor in warmer climates, but vigor and yields were adequate in a San Joaquin Valley trial, a hot climate region. Berries accumulate very high anthocyanin content, and make deeply-colored wines, even in the San Joaquin Valley. Bunch rot was a problem in some years.