After core sowing, a new seedling with individual characteristics can grow out of each embryo. If this seedling is selected, reared and found worthy of cultivation by humans, further vines are branched off from it by vegetative propagation so that a new variety with specific phenotypic and genotypic characteristics is established. Thus, a vine variety always starts with a seedling resulting from the fertilisation of an egg cell and germinated from the vine nucleus. This seedling was then grown into a vine and selected as a new vine variety and propagated vegetatively because of its positive characteristics. In the case of new varieties, this is usually derived from two different parent varieties, but seedlings from self-insemination (self-pollination) undergo the same process in principle, so that plants resulting from self-insemination also give rise to new vine varieties. This is due to the heterozygotic, i.e. split-yellow characteristic of the vine (inability of varietal offspring of the same variety).
Origin of the variety of grape varieties
Somatic chimeras and clone mutants can develop over time from vine copies that are vegetatively branched off from the seedling vine or the so-called mother vine and are initially completely identical. This is due to spontaneous mutations in the cell lines of L1 (epidermis) and L2 (inner cell layers), so that the mutated vines undergo a slow process of individualization that gradually makes them distinguishable from each other. The older a grape variety is, and the more copies (vines) of it have been branched off and then multiplied again by vegetative propagation over centuries or millennia, the more likely it is that numerous mutations have also affected the morphology of the plants
If these differences are further multiplied by vegetative propagation, local and regional groups of clone mutants are formed which differ from the original initial type (seedling) to a greater or lesser extent (variety variants or varieties) and which in turn establish independent lines of development over time as a result of the continuous propagation process. In the case of conspicuous characteristics, such mutation-related variety clones were often treated as independent varieties. For example, the grape varieties Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris and Frühburgunder (Pinot Précoce), which are mutated clones of Pinot Noir (Pinot Noir) in the colour of the berries or at maturity. This is a loss of colour
The number of existing grape varieties is based on rough estimates with plus/minus 30%. The VIVC (Vitis International Variety Catalogue) has more than 18,000 registered grape varieties, including cultivars, hybrid varieties, wild varieties and historical varieties. However, there are probably many unrecognised synonyms (pseudonyms) or even grape varieties that no longer exist. Realistic estimates assume between 8,000 and 10,000 varieties of the European species Vitis vinifera (see also vine systematics). The reason for the inaccuracy of the estimate is that it is difficult to count accurately, because many grape varieties are grown under different names in the countries, and to date no one has succeeded in comparing the national stocks of varieties, which comprise thousands of varieties, with each other in an international comparison
There is a great deal of uncertainty, particularly with regard to varieties from the Eastern Bloc (former Yugoslavia, former USSR etc.), Turkey or from Japan, India and China. However, varieties from Portugal, Spain, Italy, Malta and Greece have also been described insufficiently in some cases, so that only a direct comparison of the living plants or genotypes could provide information. With the help of the method of genetic fingerprinting, which has now been internationally standardised for the vine, the comparison of varieties can be carried out relatively easily at the desk. This is done by molecular genetic analyses and comparisons of genetic patterns. Important scientists or ampelographers in the field of DNA analysis include Dr. Jean-Michel Boursiquot (France), Javier Ibáñez (Spain), Dr. Erika Maul (Germany), Dr. Carole P. Meredith (USA), Dr. Ferdinand Regner (Austria), Anna Schneider (Italy) and Dr. José F. Vouillamoz (Switzerland)
Already Etruscans, Romans and Greeks, and certainly also the earlier advanced civilizations such as Egyptians, Babylonians, Hittites and Phoenicians have already carried out targeted seedling selection (Auslese). However, nobody knows whether they have deliberately transferred pollen from one variety to another, i.e. whether they have deliberately crossed between two varieties. About 150 Latin grape variety names have been handed down from the Romans. However, the Roman poet Virgil (70-19 B.C.) wrote about the grape varieties that they were "countless like the grains of sand in the desert" (see also under ancient grape varieties and ancient wines). The Catholic monastic orders of the Benedictines, Carthusians and Cistercians, who from the 6th century onwards gave decisive impulses in many countries in the cultivation of grape varieties and the further development of viticulture, have earned great merits
Most European cultivars are the result of a relatively small group of leading varieties and their spontaneous crosses. The most important is probably Gouais Blanc (White Heunisch), of which there are over 100 varieties such as Riesling (Germany), Chardonnay (France), Blaufränkisch and Silvaner (Austria), and Furmint (Hungary). Also Traminer (Savagnin Blanc) with Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Roter Veltliner, as well as Pinot (often with Gouais Blanc) have left many traces. Others with many descendants are Cabernet Franc, Cayetana Blanca, Chasselas, Rèze, Garganega, Listán Prieto, Luglienga Bianca, Muscat Blanc, Nebbiolo, Teroldego and Tribidrag. Unfortunately it is not possible to present the pedigrees in the form of a vine pedigree
The Domaine de Vassal research centre near Montpellier in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France cultivates the largest living assortment of vines in the world, with several thousand examples. These include 2,300 European grape varieties of the European species Vitis vinifera, 800 interspecific crosses or hybrids, 230 rootstocks and 28 wild vine species. The collection also includes varieties no longer used in practice. Today, some 2,500 quality wine grape varieties are permitted under the respective legal provisions of the countries, but many of them only play a local role. Only a few hundred are of actual worldwide importance. The French Pierre Galet (1921-2019), who described some 10,000 varieties in his numerous publications, and Paul Truel (1924-2014), who clarified the identity of many varieties, are considered to be important ampelographs of modern times.
Vine Belt
Today, vines are planted in about 100 of the 200 countries around the world. The best climatic conditions are found in the two so-called vine belts (40th to 50th north and 30th to 40th south latitude) at an altitude of 100 to 400 metres above sea level, although there are also vineyards outside these areas. Besides the rock, soil type, climate, location and vinification method, the grape variety has a decisive influence on the character and quality of a wine. Every country, wine-growing region, wine-growing area and even often smallest sub-areas have their typical grape varieties, which also shape the typical characteristics of the wine produced from them. Due to the worldwide spread of phylloxera introduced from America, European grape varieties must be grafted almost everywhere in the world to prevent phylloxera damage to the roots.
The 150 most common grape varieties
In 2012, the total global area under vines amounted to 7.487 million hectares, or 74,870 km², which is about 90% of the size of Austria (83,856 km²). Europe accounts for more than half of this, with about 4.1 million hectares. The great wines mainly come from a limited number of grape varieties (10 to 15), the Cépages nobles. According to EU regulations, quality wines must be made from approved quality wine grape varieties. The following ranking list contains the 150 most common grape varieties worldwide according to their area under cultivation. The authoritative source is the work "Which Winegrape Varieties are Grown Where? A Global Empirical Picture" by the Australian Professor of Economics Kym Anderson.
A comparison of the years 1990 or, in some cases, 2000 with 2010 shows the large changes in quantity for many varieties over these 20 or 10 years, i.e. over a relatively short period. Some varieties were increasingly cultivated due to changing wine fashions and rising quality requirements, others were grubbed up or greatly reduced due to poor quality, susceptibility to disease and legal requirements such as the EU's ban on hybrids. The Spanish Airén, which has been the undisputed leader of the ranking for many decades, has shrunk by almost half and has been overtaken by the two quality varieties Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, which doubled their stocks in the same period.
The Sultana variety, which was still in 4th place in 1990 with 271,828 hectares, mostly used as a table grape, occupied position 138 in 2010 with only 3,407 hectares for wine production (but there are around 250,000 hectares for table grape production). Other big drop-outs were Concord, Garnacha Tinta, Rkatsiteli and Trebbiano Toscano. In addition to the two new frontrunners already mentioned, the big movers up were Chardonnay, Mazuelo, Monastrell, Muscat Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Tempranillo and Welschriesling. These 150 leading varieties account for about half of the world's total area under vines (the penultimate column shows 1990 or, if not known, 2000):
Varietal aromas
Each variety has specific characteristics which are referred to as typical of the variety (see also under Flavouring). However, it depends on the method of winemaking whether these potential properties actually appear in the wine. In the case of intensive barrique ageing, these can be completely masked.
Grape variety description in the wine lexicon
Two databases of the Institute for Grapevine Breeding Geilweilerhof in Siebeldingen (Pfalz-Germany) contain comprehensive information on well over 10,000 grape varieties (see also under VIVC). In the wine lexicon about 1,700 grape varieties are described. A list of about 1,000 of them can be found under New Breeding. The grape varieties can also be searched for/found via about 5,000 synonyms (aliases). The descriptions include:
- Origin (country) - if known
- Synonyms (many names for one grape variety) & homonyms (one name for many grape varieties)
- Name meaning and historical background (anecdotes, famous wines)
- Pictures of grape and leaf of about 1,000 grape varieties
- Breeding year and breeder for new varieties
- Parentage/parenthood and relatives according to the latest DNA analyses
- morphologically similar vine varieties (risk of confusion)
- Parenthood for other varieties(mother or father variety)
- Characteristics(maturity, resistance or susceptibility to certain diseases)
- typical aroma substances or sensory properties regarding sweetness, acidity etc.
- Potential with regard to the shelf life and development potential of the wines produced from them
- Countries/areas under cultivation with the areas under vines in hectares
Sources and further information
The standard work "Wine Grapes - A complete guide to 1,368 vine varieties" was used as an important source regarding vine varieties with the kind permission of the Swiss biologist Dr. José Vouillamoz. A list of keywords relevant to vine varieties is included under vine. All work and measures in the vineyard can be found under vineyard care. Complete lists of the numerous cellar techniques, as well as a list of the wine, sparkling wine and distillate types regulated by wine law can be found under vinification. Comprehensive information on wine law can be found under wine law.
Grape varieties Colours: Pixabay
World map: The Winegrower 1 - Viticulture, Ulmer Verlag 2019, 4th edition
Grape varieties Varieties: Ursula Brühl, Doris Schneider, Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI)
Flavour jars: armin faber info@faberpartner.de