Description and characteristics of Pinot Grigio grapes, pros and cons, cultivation

Grapes have been cultivated by people for centuries. Delicious juicy berries, aromatic wine, but in order to get a good harvest, you need to choose the right variety and carefully care for the vine. The history of the Pinot Grigio grape variety, which spans several centuries, allows us to talk about it as one of the best for producing wine with excellent taste characteristics.

History of variety selection

The Pinot Grigio variety is a technical grape variety and is intended for wine production. The first mention of this variety dates back to the 13th century. At that time, this variety was grown exclusively in France. The wine made from the berries of this grape was especially liked by Emperor Charles IV.

Gray Pinot comes from Burgundy, but later this variety began to be cultivated in Italy. Italian winemakers managed to obtain a fragrant light wine with honey notes from the berries of this variety. Selection work carried out by Soviet scientists P. P. Blagonravov, E. B. Ivanova and P. V. Gorobets made it possible to increase the yield of the variety and made it possible to grow it in the North Caucasus and the former Soviet republics.

In 1970, it passed state tests, and since then has been successfully cultivated in Russia.

The best wines from the berries of this variety are produced by Italy and France, but Germany, the USA, Australia, Chile, Russia and many other countries produce their own Pinot Grigio wine. Pinot Gris is a cloned variety of the main variety grown in Switzerland.

Varieties

The Pinot Grigio grape comes in several varieties. White and rose wines are produced from it.

American grapes

Pinot Grigio has been grown in the US state of Oregon since 1966. Thanks to the efforts of American farmer David Lett, the grapes have taken root well in the Willamette Valley. Consistently high yields allowed wine made from grapes of this variety to become the most popular in the state.The taste characteristics of the resulting wines attract a wide palette. Some people like spicy shades, others prefer light, refreshing notes.

To be fair, it should be said that connoisseurs still prefer Italian or French wine.

Italian

Italy does not give up its leading position in the production of Pinot Grigio wines. Vineyards occupy the territory from the north to the south of the country. Since the variety prefers a temperate climate, the best wines from it are obtained in the northern regions: Friuli, Veneto, Alto Adige. Nordic wines smell of spices, almonds and contain peach notes. Italians love young wines made from this grape.

External parameters and characteristics

Belongs to the group of Western European late grape varieties. While possessing all the technical characteristics of a white grape, Pinot Grigio berries often have a reddish-brown hue. This is especially emphasized in all descriptions of the variety. Some clones of the variety are distinguished by clusters of golden-green or golden color. That is why wines made from it can be white and pink and differ in taste.

Pinot means pine cone in French. The clusters really resemble a cone: small berries are densely packed, in the center of the cluster they are sometimes deformed due to compression. They can be round or slightly oval, the thin skin is highly durable. The bunch has a short stalk and weighs from 80 to 150 grams. The average size of the leaves is 15x14 centimeters, they are 3-5 lobed, with a deep dissection.

Juicy and tender berries have 1-3 seeds. The grape juice of this variety is colorless and rich. The sugar content of the berries is about 20%. The variety is not characterized by a very high yield, but the bushes are large and tall, take root well in a cool climate (for grapes) and grow.

Pinot Gris does not tolerate frost. The variety needs 130-150 days to ripen; the harvest is harvested in the 1st-2nd decade of September. Not very resistant to oidium and mildew; prolonged rainy conditions can provoke the development of gray rot.

It is used to prepare high-quality table and sparkling wine, and is used in the production of champagne.

Bush and shoots

The variety is distinguished by significant growth of shoots and a developed root system. Annual shoots are colored light brown, with shortened internodes and darker color of the nodes. If the bush grows strongly, it needs pruning. The crown of young shoots is heavily pubescent. In the first three years after planting, the bush is especially demanding in terms of compliance with agrotechnical growing conditions.

Productivity

The variety has an average yield. There are about 52% of fruit-bearing shoots on the bush. When grown industrially, it yields about 9 tons per hectare. For a good harvest you need: suitable soil, absence of drafts and timely treatment against pests and diseases. The low yield is more than compensated by the excellent taste of the resulting wine.

In what areas is it recommended to plant?

The Pinot Grigio variety feels great in the North Caucasus, Crimea and Krasnodar Territory. In other places it is often affected by spring frosts and requires high-quality shelter for the winter.

Planting and care

The variety takes root well if weather conditions match.

Selection of seedlings

It is better to purchase seedlings immediately before planting. They should have healthy, strong, developed roots that resemble raw potatoes when broken. Choose specimens with a smooth, healthy, undamaged trunk. Under the bark, the seedling should be a rich green color.When purchasing, you should press on the eyes; if they fall off, you should refuse the purchase.

It is better to purchase seedlings in special nurseries or from trusted suppliers. Often, enthusiastic winegrowers exchange seedlings with each other. Numerous forums on the Internet offer advice on the specifics of agricultural technology.

Requirements for soil and planting size

Grapes prefer fertile soils. The quantity and quality of the harvest directly depends on this. It does not tolerate acidic and saline soils well. Grows well in sunny, elevated or well-drained areas with neutral or alkaline soil. The distance between bushes in a row and between rows for Pinot Grigio is about a meter. The hole for planting is 80x80 centimeters.

Before planting, the roots are soaked in water for 24 hours, trimmed if necessary and treated with a clay mash. If the soil is not very fertile, humus is added to the bottom of the hole. The soil in the hole is poured into a mound, the seedling is carefully placed in the center and the roots are evenly spread.

Important: in the first 3 years, this grape variety requires especially careful care. After planting, the soil is compacted and the plant is watered.

Loosening the soil

The variety is very sensitive to weeds; plantings must be systematically loosened, ensuring good access of oxygen to the roots.

Watering

During the period of active growth, the grapes should be watered, adding at least 10 liters of water to each bush. Usually watered once a month, but adjusted for weather conditions. Organizing drip irrigation is the best option for the Pinot Grigio variety. In August and September, the plants are not watered. The last watering is carried out after harvesting, in early October.

Top dressing

Feed the plant three times per season.In the spring, during the period of swelling of the buds, nitrogen fertilizers are needed; you can use a 5% solution of bird droppings. The second feeding is done before flowering: use Kemira, Plantofol or another ready-made complex for grapes, in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. The third feeding for this variety is applied in September, after harvesting. Fertilize with organic matter.

Trimming and pinning

Pinot Grigio requires regular pruning. The bush is trimmed in the spring, after removing the covering material. Remove dry branches and cut off excess shoots with scissors. The vine is tied to pre-prepared wooden pegs. Clothes pinning is carried out in the spring, breaking off strong branches, slightly higher than 10 knots.

Seasonal disease prevention

Since the variety is susceptible to oidium and mildew, the plants should be sprayed regularly. This is done with Bordeaux mixture or fungicides (Horus, Topaz, Strobi). After the formation of the ovary, during the period of filling the berries, no spraying is carried out.

Autumn treatment is carried out before covering the grapes for the winter in order to prevent the preservation of spores and the development of diseases in the next season.

Caring for bunches

They are protected from birds by stretching a metal mesh. To protect against wasps, poisoned bait is hung in the vineyard, and wasp nests are found and burned. If the bunches are affected by diseases, they are destroyed in a timely manner to prevent the spread of the disease.

Preparing vines for winter

Pinot Grigio needs to be covered. It’s good if a special trench is dug along the rows of grapes to cover the vines. Then it is simply laid down for the winter and covered with earth, film, spruce branches or other covering material.Before sheltering, remove wilted leaves and dry branches, and treat the vine against diseases and pests.

Fruit ripening period

The full development period takes 130-150 days. Ripe bunches are harvested in mid-September. They are carefully cut with scissors and placed in spacious containers.

How to store

Technical (wine) grape varieties are immediately processed. In France, the sale of young wines officially begins at midnight on November 15, during which time it must ferment, which requires at least a month.

Where are grape bunches used?

From bunches of Pinot Grigio grapes, table white and rose wines, sparkling wine and wine material for champagne are prepared.

Problems during cultivation and ways to solve them

The main problem is the damage to grapes by diseases and pests.

Fungal

These include:

• oidium;
• mildew;
• gray and white rot;
• black spot.

To prevent the grapes from getting sick, you should follow the planting pattern of the vines, prune the vines and remove foliage and branches under the bushes. For preventive purposes, plants are treated with Bordeaux mixture, iron or copper sulfate, and preparations with sulfur. Complex action fungicides (Topaz, Horus) help well.

Bacterial

Such diseases occur when damaged by pests, after harsh winters, or chronic diseases of the seedling. For prevention you need:

• do not overload the vine;
• protect the vineyard from birds and wasps;
• carefully cover the plant so as not to damage the bush;
• treat the plant against fungus;
• avoid excessive watering;
• properly fertilize grapes.

When a bush becomes infected with bacteria, it usually has to be uprooted.

Pests

The vineyard may suffer from: phyloloxera, mites or leaf rollers.If pests are detected, they are treated with insecticides (for example, Kenmix), in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. Of course, growing grapes is hard, painstaking work. However, the winegrower, seeing his own beautiful and aromatic wine splashing in a glass, forgets about his problems and happily prepares for the new season.