Description and characteristics of the Cabernet Sauvignon grape variety, growing regions and planting rules

Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are grown in most cases for winemaking. Gardeners note many positive aspects of all varieties of this variety. Dark blue berries are small in size, round in shape. To obtain a large and high-quality harvest, it is necessary to select seedlings and plant them correctly. Care in each season has its own characteristics.

Breeding history

The variety first became known in France more than 300 years ago thanks to the combination of two varieties of grapes with fruits of different colors - white Sauvignon and red-black Cabernet Franc. The result is a Cabernet Sauvignon hybrid that exhibits superior characteristics.

Description of the variety

White and dark blue Cabernet Sauvignon begins to ripen late, in mid-October. If the berries are intended to make table wine, then 145 days are enough for ripening. To make dessert wine, the harvest is harvested later, after 165 days. The plant forms a widely spreading bush, which is most often formed with a main strong trunk and hanging shoots. After planting, fruiting begins after 4 years.

The description states that the leaves are round in shape with reddish, coarsely carved edges. Long, cone-shaped clusters of berries up to 16 cm long are formed on the branches.

The berries are small, no more than 16 mm in diameter, weight 3 g. The color of the dense skin is dark gray, the top of the berries are covered with a waxy layer. There are 2-3 bones inside. The berries taste juicy, tart-sweet.

What are the advantages

The main advantage of the variety, according to experienced gardeners, is minimal care.

Other benefits of grapes include:

• the variety tolerates drought and low temperatures well;
• the plant is resistant to waterlogging;
• resists infections and pests well;
• forms a consistently high amount of yield;
• Juices and wines are made from sweet berries;
• the berries do not crack, even if they are overripe;
• quickly adapts to changes in the external environment.

If you take proper care of the grapes, there will be no defects.The large number of berries in a bunch leads to the fact that some of them begin to crumble. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to carry out timely pruning of shoots and leaves, as well as tie the vine to a support.

Variety of species

Cabernet grapes, in addition to Sauvignon, include many other varieties:

• The black Franc grape is the ancestor of the Cabernet Sauvignon variety. Ripens early, yield is average. The dense skin of the dark blue berries is covered with a waxy layer.
• Northern Cabernet grapes begin to ripen in early autumn, forming compact clusters weighing up to 90 g. The bushes themselves are compact and low. The berries are small with a slight layer of plaque. The variety is frost-resistant (up to -28 degrees).
• The Cortis variety was obtained in Germany by combining the types of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merzling. Distinctive features are early ripening, annual formation of high yields and resistance to disease. The blue berries are covered with a waxy layer.
• The Jura variety was bred in Switzerland, has mid-early ripening limits, and good immunity. The berries are dark blue with a purple tinge.
• The Cabernet Carbon variety is characterized by medium-late ripening of berries; the bunch is small, weighing 95 g. The berries are small in size and have a round shape.
• Cabernet Michurinsky grapes begin to ripen early, the clusters are small in size. It is characterized by the formation of a large harvest, frost resistance and good resistance to disease. Withstands frosts down to -29 degrees.
• Dorsa grapes begin to ripen in September, the yield is average, clusters are formed every year.
• The Karol variety is distinguished by medium ripening limits for sweet berries and high yield.Flowering begins much later than other Cabernet varieties, so the flowers are not exposed to spring frosts.

Before making a choice in favor of one variety or another, you need to get acquainted with the characteristics. It is important to take into account the climatic characteristics of the region in which grapes are supposed to be grown.

Distinctive characteristics

Characteristics of the variety will allow you to determine its distinctive features:

• The seedlings are characterized by rapid growth.
• The leaves have a red edge.
• The berries can be recognized by their round shape and dark blue color.
• A bunch of grapes weighs approximately 75 g.
• Ripe berries smell like currants.

These features will help you recognize the Cabernet Sauvignon grape variety.

Tips for choosing seedlings

You should buy seedlings from trusted sellers. When choosing, it is important to consider several features:

• If the roots of the seedling are too dry, they will not take root well in the new location.
• It is better to buy seedlings immediately before planting in the ground, as they do not store well.
• A seedling purchased in the fall should have a minimum number of leaves. If there are a lot of them, then there is a high probability that the seedling has lost a lot of moisture.

The following signs indicate a healthy and high-quality seedling:

• root branches have a light and moist appearance;
• when trying to bend the vine, no cracks or signs of brittleness should appear;
• the buds are strong, fit tightly to the branches and do not fall off at the slightest touch;
• The grafting site is clearly visible.

For authenticity, the seller is asked to cut off a small part of the bark. If juice appears and green inside appears, then the plant is healthy and fresh. If the seller does not agree to conduct such testing, one may doubt the quality of the purchased product.

Recommendations for planting

Seedlings are planted either in autumn or spring. Each season is characterized by positive aspects and disadvantages. If you plant grapes in the spring, you can be sure that frosts will not interfere with the development of the seedling. But it is difficult to store the plant all winter. Therefore, gardeners prefer to plant fruit bushes in the fall.

In the autumn, planting work begins long before the expected winter frosts, so that the roots can adapt and gain strength. It is better to plant grapes in rows, every 3 meters. The soil must have a sufficient amount of nutritional components.

The planting area should be well lit and ventilated. It is better to plant on the south side of buildings that are located on the site. This will help protect the plant from northern cold winds.

Caring for Cabernet Sauvignon grapes

Cabernet Sauvignon is easy to care for. It is unpretentious and is rarely attacked by pests or infected with infections. Standard care includes the following points.

Watering

Young grape seedlings at the beginning of the growing season in spring require frequent and abundant watering. The soil should not be dry or too moist. For irrigation use warm, settled water. The next watering is carried out before flowering begins. Then water immediately after the end of the flowering period. Moisturize for the last time before winter. Mature shrubs are watered even less often.

Top dressing

Fertilizers are applied correctly, following the recommended dosages. Excess, as well as lack of nutritional components, leads to slower development and reduced yield.

Even before planting, it is recommended to add organic or mineral fertilizers to the soil (chicken droppings, manure, peat, ammonium nitrate, wood ash).The stock of these components will be sufficient for the next few years. In mid-spring, along with watering, you need to enrich the soil with potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus components. Fertilizer is applied into a special groove, which is dug around the trunk.

Formation

The Cabernet Sauvignon grape variety needs pruning, which will relieve the vine and increase the number of harvests. It is best to prune branches in the fall, when sap flow stops. In this case, the cut site heals faster and the risk of infection is reduced. If spring pruning is done incorrectly, a tear appears at the cut site and flows down onto the buds. As a result, kidney development stops.

If it was not possible to carry out autumn pruning, it is better to postpone the procedure to early spring, when the snow is just beginning to melt. At the same time, you need to remove dry and damaged branches. In the summer months, pinching is done to remove damaged or excess branches and leaves. This will allow heat and sunlight to penetrate to all parts of the plant.

Methods of propagation of the variety

The Cabernet Sauvignon grape variety is propagated by cuttings. Rules to follow:

• shoots are cut to a length of 48 cm;
• on each cutting there should be at least four developed buds;
• each shoot is cleared of leaves;
• Place in a bucket of water for 20 hours;
• then treated with disinfecting solutions (copper sulfate, for example, is suitable).

Cuttings intended for planting should be stored in a dark place; they can be buried in the ground.

Diseases and pests

Cabernet Sauvignon grapes rarely get sick and are subject to attack by insect pests. But it doesn’t hurt to take preventive measures:

• Among the frequent grape pests Spider mites, grape mites, and grape budworms are also found.
• Of the diseases, grapes are most often affected by rot, anthracnose, mildew, bacteriosis, and chlorosis.

It is recommended to carry out the treatment procedure immediately after the end of winter, giving preference to natural-based formulations.

Growing regions

The Cabernet Sauvignon grape variety loves warmth, so it is grown in Australia, Argentina, Italy, Kazakhstan, Romania, Ukraine, and France. Since the berries begin to ripen late (after 155 days), this variety is not suitable for cultivation in any region of Russia.