Botanical name (parthenos = virgin, kissos = ivy) of the deciduous, liana-like climbing plant. Trivial names are Jungfernrebe, Mauerkatze, Mauerwein, Veitschi and Zaunrebe in German-speaking countries and Virginia Creeper in English-speaking countries. Within the vine family (Vitaceae), it is one of the 12 genera - as is Vitis, to which the cultivated vines belong. With the exception of Vitis, all other genera are colloquially referred to as "wild vines". However, this should not be equated with wild vines, the wild form of cultivated vines. The mostly hermaphroditic flowers can ripen into dark blue or black solitary rather inedible berries.
There are about a dozen species native to the forests of Asia and North America. However, the various sources sometimes give different names and synonyms:
For me, Lexicon from wein.plus is the most comprehensive and best source of information about wine currently available.
Egon Mark
Diplom-Sommelier, Weinakademiker und Weinberater, Volders (Österreich)