World Grape Varieties

1. Cabernet Sauvignon 2. Merlot 3. Tempranillo 4. Airén 5. Chardonnay 6. Syrah 7. Grenache 8. Sauvignon Blanc 9. Pinot Noir 10.Trebbiano

Source: OIV Note de conjoncture mondiale 2017.

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Vitis Vinifera

Vitis Vinifera (the grape vine) is the most cultivated and economically important fruit in the world.

Vitis vinifera is a flowering plant native to the Mediterranean region, Central Europe, and southwest Asia, from Morocco and Portugal in the south-west, to Germany in the north, Egypt in the south, and Iran and Georgia in the east.

Vitis vinifinera produces high quality grapes with good aromas. There are between 5.000 and 10.000 different varieties (Wikipedia), but only a few are of commercial significance for wine production.

The earliest evidence of wine is from the Caucasus region in Georgia (6000 BCE), in Persia (5000 BCE), and in Italy and Armenia (4000 BCE).

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Cultivated Grapes (Cultivar)

Wild grapevine seeds naturally in humid riverbank forests.

Cultivated vines are not grown from seeds. They are spread from cuttings and selected via hybrids and clones. 2 years after planting, cultivated vines produce new grapes every year.

The lifespan of a grapevine can be over 100 years.

Riesling vineyard - Zell in Mosel