''Vitis'' (grapevine) is a genus of 81 accepted species of vining plants in the

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...

family

Vitaceae The Vitaceae are a family of flowering plants, with 14 genera and around 910 known species, including common plants such as Vitis, grapevines (''Vitis'' spp.) and Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Virginia creeper (''Parthenocissus quinquefolia''). Th ...

. The genus consists of species predominantly from the Northern Hemisphere. It is economically important as the source of

grape A grape is a fruit, botanically a berry, of the deciduous woody vines of the flowering plant genus ''Vitis''. Grapes are a non- climacteric type of fruit, generally occurring in clusters. The cultivation of grapes began approximately 8,0 ...

s, both for direct consumption of the fruit and for fermentation to produce

wine Wine is an alcoholic drink made from Fermentation in winemaking, fermented fruit. Yeast in winemaking, Yeast consumes the sugar in the fruit and converts it to ethanol and carbon dioxide, releasing heat in the process. Wine is most often made f ...

. The study and cultivation of grapevines is called

viticulture Viticulture (, "vine-growing"), viniculture (, "wine-growing"), or winegrowing is the cultivation and harvesting of grapes. It is a branch of the science of horticulture. While the native territory of ''Vitis vinifera'', the common grape vine ...

. Most cultivated ''Vitis'' varieties are

wind-pollinated Anemophily or wind pollination is a form of pollination whereby pollen is distributed by wind. Almost all gymnosperms are anemophilous, as are many plants in the order Poales, including Poaceae, grasses, Cyperaceae, sedges, and Juncaceae, rushes. ...

with

hermaphroditic A hermaphrodite () is a sexually reproducing organism that produces both male and female gametes. Animal species in which individuals are either male or female are gonochoric, which is the opposite of hermaphroditic. The individuals of many ...

flowers containing both male and female reproductive structures, while wild species are dioecious. These flowers are grouped in bunches called

inflorescence In botany, an inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a plant's Plant stem, stem that is composed of a main branch or a system of branches. An inflorescence is categorized on the basis of the arrangement of flowers on a mai ...

s. In many species, such as ''Vitis vinifera'', each successfully pollinated flower becomes a grape berry with the inflorescence turning into a

cluster of grapes In viticulture, the grape cluster (also bunch of grapes) is a fertilized inflorescence of the grapevine, the primary part of this plant used for food (grape leaves are also used in some culinary traditions). The size of the grape bunch greatly va ...

. While the flowers of the grapevines are usually very small, the berries are often large and brightly colored with sweet flavors that attract birds and other animals to disperse the seeds contained within the berries.Wine & Spirits Education Trust ''"Wine and Spirits: Understanding Wine Quality"'' pgs 2-5, Second Revised Edition (2012), London, Grapevines usually only produce fruit on shoots that came from buds that were developed during the previous

growing season A season is a division of the year marked by changes in weather, ecology, and the amount of daylight. The growing season is that portion of the year in which local conditions (i.e. rainfall, temperature, daylight) permit normal plant growth. Whi ...

. In viticulture, this is one of the principles behind

pruning Pruning is the selective removal of certain parts of a plant, such as branches, buds, or roots. It is practiced in horticulture (especially fruit tree pruning), arboriculture, and silviculture. The practice entails the targeted removal of di ...

the previous year's growth (or "One year old wood") that includes shoots that have turned hard and woody during the winter (after

harvest Harvesting is the process of collecting plants, animals, or fish (as well as fungi) as food, especially the process of gathering mature crops, and "the harvest" also refers to the collected crops. Reaping is the cutting of grain or pulses fo ...

in commercial viticulture). These vines will be pruned either into a

cane Cane or caning may refer to: *Walking stick, or walking cane, a device used primarily to aid walking * Assistive cane, a walking stick used as a mobility aid for better balance * White cane, a mobility or safety device used by blind or visually i ...

which will support 8 to 15 buds or to a smaller

spur A spur is a metal tool designed to be worn in pairs on the heels of riding boots for the purpose of directing a horse or other animal to move forward or laterally while riding. It is usually used to refine the riding aids (commands) and to ba ...

which holds 2 to 3 buds.

Description

In the wild, all species of ''Vitis'' are normally

dioecious Dioecy ( ; ; adj. dioecious, ) is a characteristic of certain species that have distinct unisexual individuals, each producing either male or female gametes, either directly (in animals) or indirectly (in seed plants). Dioecious reproduction is ...

, but under domestication, variants with

perfect flower Plant reproductive morphology is the study of the physical form and structure (the morphology) of those parts of plants directly or indirectly concerned with sexual reproduction. Among all living organisms, flowers, which are the reproductive s ...

s appear to have been selected. Flower buds are formed late in the growing season and overwinter for blooming in the spring of the next year. They produce leaf-opposed

cymes In botany, an inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a plant's stem that is composed of a main branch or a system of branches. An inflorescence is categorized on the basis of the arrangement of flowers on a main axis ( ped ...

. Vitis is distinguished from other genera in the Vitaceae family by its petals, which remain joined at the tip and detach from the base to fall off together as a calyptra or 'cap'. The

flower Flowers, also known as blooms and blossoms, are the reproductive structures of flowering plants ( angiosperms). Typically, they are structured in four circular levels, called whorls, around the end of a stalk. These whorls include: calyx, m ...

s are pentamerous. The calyx is greatly reduced or nonexistent in most species. The

fruit In botany, a fruit is the seed-bearing structure in flowering plants (angiosperms) that is formed from the ovary after flowering. Fruits are the means by which angiosperms disseminate their seeds. Edible fruits in particular have long propaga ...

is a

berry A berry is a small, pulpy, and often edible fruit. Typically, berries are juicy, rounded, brightly colored, sweet, sour or tart, and do not have a stone or pit although many pips or seeds may be present. Common examples of berries in the cul ...

, ovoid in shape and juicy, with a two-celled ovary each containing two ovules, thus normally producing four seeds per flower (or fewer by way of aborted embryos). Other parts of the vine include the

tendril In botany, a tendril is a specialized Plant stem, stem, leaf or Petiole (botany), petiole with a thread-like shape used by climbing plants for support and attachment, as well as cellular invasion by parasitic plants such as ''Cuscuta''. There ar ...

s which are leaf-opposed, branched in ''

Vitis vinifera ''Vitis vinifera'', the common grape vine, is a species of flowering plant, native to the Mediterranean Basin, Mediterranean region, Central Europe, and southwestern Asia, from Morocco and Portugal north to southern Germany and east to northern ...

'', and support the climbing plant by twining around surrounding structures such as branches or the

trellising A trellis (French: ''treillage'') is an architectural structure, usually made from an open framework or lattice of interwoven or intersecting pieces of wood, bamboo or metal that is normally made to support and display climbing plants, especiall ...

of a

vine-training system The use of vine training systems in viticulture is aimed primarily to assist in canopy management with finding the balance in enough foliage to facilitate photosynthesis without excessive shading that could impede grape ripening or promote grape ...

. The genus ''Vitis'' is divided into two subgenera, ''Euvitis'' Planch. have 38 chromosomes (n=19) with berries borne on clusters and ''Muscadinia'' Planch. 40 (n=20) with small clusters. Wild grapes can resemble the single-seeded ''

Menispermum canadense ''Menispermum canadense'', the Canadian moonseed, common moonseed, or yellow parilla, is a flowering plant in the family Menispermaceae, native to eastern North America, from southern Canada south to northern Florida, and from the Atlantic coast ...

'' (moonseed), which is toxic.

Species

Most ''Vitis'' species are found mostly in the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere in

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere, Northern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres. North America is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South Ameri ...

and eastern

Asia Asia ( , ) is the largest continent in the world by both land area and population. It covers an area of more than 44 million square kilometres, about 30% of Earth's total land area and 8% of Earth's total surface area. The continent, which ...

, exceptions being a few in the tropics and the wine grape ''Vitis vinifera'' which originated in southern

Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...

and southwestern Asia. Grape species occur in widely different geographical areas and show a great diversity of form. Their growth makes leaf collection challenging and polymorphic leaves make identification of species difficult. Mature grapevines can grow up to in

diameter at breast height Diameter at breast height, or DBH, is a standard method of expressing the diameter of the trunk or bole of a standing tree. DBH is one of the most common dendrometric measurements. Tree trunks are measured at the height of an adult's breast, ...

and reach the upper canopy of trees more than in height. Many species are sufficiently closely related to allow easy interbreeding and the resultant interspecific hybrids are invariably fertile and vigorous. Thus the concept of a species is less well defined and more likely represents the identification of different ecotypes of ''Vitis'' that have evolved in distinct geographical and environmental circumstances. The exact number of species is not certain. Plants of the World Online states 81 species are accepted, but lists 84. More than 65 species in

are poorly defined. Approximately 25 species are known in

, and these were studied extensively in the late 1800s by German-American botanist George Englemann. By contrast, just one, ''V. vinifera'' has

Eurasia Eurasia ( , ) is a continental area on Earth, comprising all of Europe and Asia. According to some geographers, Physical geography, physiographically, Eurasia is a single supercontinent. The concept of Europe and Asia as distinct continents d ...

n origins. Some of the more notable species include: #''

Vitis aestivalis ''Vitis aestivalis'', the summer grape, or pigeon grape is a species of grape native to eastern North America from southern Ontario east to Maine, west to Oklahoma, and south to Florida and Texas. It is a vigorous vine, growing to 10 m or more hi ...

'', the summer grape, native to the

Eastern United States The Eastern United States, often abbreviated as simply the East, is a macroregion of the United States located to the east of the Mississippi River. It includes 17–26 states and Washington, D.C., the national capital. As of 2011, the Eastern ...

, especially the

Southeastern United States The Southeastern United States, also known as the American Southeast or simply the Southeast, is a geographical List of regions in the United States, region of the United States located in the eastern portion of the Southern United States and t ...

#''

Vitis amurensis ''Vitis amurensis'', the Amur grape, is a species of grape native to the Asian continent. Its name comes from the Amur Valley in Russia and China. It is very resistant to frost, but is not tolerant to drought. Selections vary, but as a species ...

'', native to the Asian continent, including parts of Siberia and China #''

Vitis arizonica ''Vitis arizonica'' is a North American species of wild grape. It is a deciduous vine. Common names for the grape are Arizona grape, canyon grape, and uva del monte. It has historically been used as a food source by Indigenous peoples of the S ...

'', The Arizona grape is native to Arizona, Utah, Nevada, California, New Mexico, Texas, and Northern Mexico. #''

Vitis berlandieri ''Vitis berlandieri'' is a species of grape native to the southern North America, primarily Texas, New Mexico and Arkansas. It is primarily known for good tolerance against soils with a high content of lime, which can cause chlorosis in many vi ...

'', native to the southern North America, primarily Texas, New Mexico and Arkansas. Primarily known for good tolerance against soils with a high content of lime, which can cause chlorosis in many vines of American origin #''

Vitis californica ''Vitis'' (grapevine) is a genus of 81 accepted species of vining plants in the flowering plant family Vitaceae. The genus consists of species predominantly from the Northern Hemisphere. It is economically important as the source of grapes, bot ...

'', the California wild grape, or Northern California grape, or Pacific grape, is a wild grape species widespread across much of California as well as southwestern Oregon #''

Vitis coignetiae ''Vitis coignetiae'', called crimson glory vine, is a plant belonging to the genus ''Vitis'' that is native to the temperate climes of Asia, where it can be found in the Russian Far East (Sakhalin); Korea; and Japan (Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku). ...

'', the crimson glory vine, a species from East Asia grown as an

ornamental plant Ornamental plants or ''garden plants'' are plants that are primarily grown for their beauty but also for qualities such as scent or how they shape physical space. Many flowering plants and garden varieties tend to be specially bred cultivars th ...

for its crimson autumn foliage # ''

Vitis labrusca ''Vitis labrusca'', the fox grape, is a species of grapevines belonging to the ''Vitis'' genus in the flowering plant family Vitaceae. The vines are native to eastern North America and are the source of many grape cultivars, including Catawba, ...

'' L., the fox grapevine, sometimes used for winemaking and for jam. Native to the

and

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

. The

Concord grape The Concord grape is a cultivar derived from the grape species ''Vitis labrusca'' (also known as fox grape) that are used as table grapes, wine grapes and juice grapes. They are often used to make grape jelly, grape juice, grape pies, grape- ...

was derived by a cross with this species #''

Vitis riparia ''Vitis riparia'' Michx, with common names riverbank grape or frost grape, is a vine indigenous to North America. As a climbing or trailing vine, it is widely distributed across central and eastern Canada and the central and northeastern parts ...

'', the riverbank grapevine, sometimes used for winemaking and for jam. Native to the entire

and north to

Quebec Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...

#''

Vitis rotundifolia ''Vitis rotundifolia'', or muscadine, is a grapevine species native to the southeastern and south-central United States. The growth range extends from Florida to New Jersey coast, and west to eastern Texas and Oklahoma. It has been extensive ...

'' (syn. ''Muscadinia rotundifolia''), the

muscadine ''Vitis rotundifolia'', or muscadine, is a grapevine species native to the southern United States, southeastern and south-central United States. The growth range extends from Florida to New Jersey coast, and west to eastern Texas and Oklahoma. I ...

, used for jams and wine. Native to the

from

Delaware Delaware ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic states, South Atlantic regions of the United States. It borders Maryland to its south and west, Pennsylvania to its north, New Jersey ...

to the

Gulf of Mexico The Gulf of Mexico () is an oceanic basin and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, mostly surrounded by the North American continent. It is bounded on the northeast, north, and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States; on the southw ...

#''

Vitis rupestris ''Vitis rupestris'' is a species of grape native to the United States that is known by many common names including July, Coon, sand, sugar, beach, bush, currant, ingar, rock, and mountain grape. It is used for breeding several French-American hy ...

'', the rock grapevine, used for breeding of Phylloxera resistant rootstock. Native to the

Southern United States The Southern United States (sometimes Dixie, also referred to as the Southern States, the American South, the Southland, Dixieland, or simply the South) is List of regions of the United States, census regions defined by the United States Cens ...

#''

'', the European grapevine. Native to the Mediterranean and Central Asia. #''

Vitis vulpina ''Vitis vulpina'' (with common names frost grape, winter grape, fox grape, and wild grape.) is a North American species of herbaceous perennial vines in the grape family. It is widespread across most of the eastern and central United States a ...

'', the frost grape, native to the

, from Massachusetts to Florida, and west to Nebraska, Kansas, and Texas Treated by some as a

synonym A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means precisely or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words ''begin'', ''start'', ''commence'', and ''initiate'' are a ...

of ''V. riparia''. ''

Plants of the World Online Plants of the World Online (POWO) is an online taxonomic database published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. History Following the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew launched Plants of the World Online i ...

'' also includes: # '' Vitis acerifolia'' Raf. # ''

Vitis amoena ''Vitis'' (grapevine) is a genus of 81 accepted species of vining plants in the flowering plant family Vitaceae. The genus consists of species predominantly from the Northern Hemisphere. It is economically important as the source of grapes, bot ...

'' Z.H. Chen, Feng Chen & WW.Y. Xie # '' Vitis baihuashanensis'' M.S.Kang & D.Z.Lu # '' Vitis balansana'' Planch. # ''

Vitis bashanica ''Vitis'' (grapevine) is a genus of 81 accepted species of vining plants in the flowering plant family Vitaceae. The genus consists of species predominantly from the Northern Hemisphere. It is economically important as the source of grapes, bot ...

'' P.C.He # ''

Vitis bellula ''Vitis bellula'', commonly known as the beautiful grape or small leaf hair grape, is a Chinese liana (woody vine) in the grape family. It is native to the provinces of Guangdong, Guangxi, Hubei, Hunan, and Sichuan Sichuan is a province in ...

'' (Rehder) W.T.Wang # '' Vitis betulifolia'' Diels & Gilg # ''

Vitis biformis ''Vitis'' (grapevine) is a genus of 81 accepted species of vining plants in the flowering plant family Vitaceae. The genus consists of species predominantly from the Northern Hemisphere. It is economically important as the source of grapes, bot ...

'' Rose # ''

Vitis blancoi ''Vitis blancoi'' is a species of liana in the grape family which bears black berries, and is native to western Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin A ...

'' Munson # ''

Vitis bloodworthiana ''Vitis'' (grapevine) is a genus of 81 accepted species of vining plants in the flowering plant family Vitaceae. The genus consists of species predominantly from the Northern Hemisphere. It is economically important as the source of grapes, bot ...

'' Comeaux # ''

Vitis bourgaeana ''Vitis'' (grapevine) is a genus of 81 accepted species of vining plants in the flowering plant family Vitaceae. The genus consists of species predominantly from the Northern Hemisphere. It is economically important as the source of grapes, bot ...

'' Planch. # ''

Vitis bryoniifolia ''Vitis bryoniifolia'' is a prolific and adaptable, polygamo-dioecious species of climbing vine in the grape family native to China, where it is known as ''ying yu''(Traditional Chinese: 蘡薁 Simplified Chinese: 蘡薁),or ''hua bei pu tao'' ...

'' Bunge # ''

Vitis × champinii ''Vitis'' × ''champinii'', or Champin's grape, is a hybrid grape A grape is a fruit, botanically a berry, of the deciduous woody vines of the flowering plant genus ''Vitis''. Grapes are a non- climacteric type of fruit, generally occu ...

'' Planch. # ''

Vitis chunganensis ''Vitis chunganensis'' is a species of climbing vine in the grape family native to China (Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Jiangxi, and Zhejiang provinces). In Chinese it is called ''dong nan pu tao'', or Southeast grape. Habitats in ...

'' Hu # ''

Vitis chungii ''Vitis chungii'' is a polygamo-dioecious species of wild grape native to China (in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Jiangxi provinces) where it is known by the name ''min gan pu tao'', or Fujian Jianxi grape. It is a forest inhabitant, 200–100 ...

'' F.P.Metcalf # ''

Vitis cinerea ''Vitis cinerea'', the graybark grape, is a variety of grape. It has small black berries A berry is a small, pulpy, and often edible fruit. Typically, berries are juicy, rounded, brightly colored, sweet, sour or tart, and do not have a stone ...

'' (Engelm.) Millardet # '' Vitis davidi'' (Rom.Caill.) Foëx # '' Vitis × doaniana'' Munson ex Viala # ''

Vitis erythrophylla ''Vitis'' (grapevine) is a genus of 81 accepted species of vining plants in the flowering plant family Vitaceae. The genus consists of species predominantly from the Northern Hemisphere. It is economically important as the source of grapes, bot ...

'' W.T.Wang # '' Vitis fengqinensis'' C.L.Li # '' Vitis ficifolia'' Bunge # '' Vitis flavicosta'' Mickel & Beitel # '' Vitis flexuosa'' Thunb. # ''

Vitis girdiana ''Vitis girdiana'' is as species of wild grape known as the desert wild grape, coyote grape, or valley grape. It is native to southern California in the United States and to Baja California in Mexico.Vitis hancockii'' Hance # '' Vitis heyneana'' Schult. # '' Vitis hissarica'' Vassilcz. # '' Vitis hui'' W.C.Cheng # ''

Vitis jaegeriana ''Vitis jaegeriana'' is a plant species in the grape family that is endemic to North-Central Mexico. The vine is native to the state of San Luis Potosí region, including habitats in the Sierra Madre Oriental range . It is a tertiary genetic r ...

'' Comeaux # ''

Vitis jinggangensis ''Vitis'' (grapevine) is a genus of 81 accepted species of vining plants in the flowering plant family Vitaceae. The genus consists of species predominantly from the Northern Hemisphere. It is economically important as the source of grapes, bot ...

'' W.T.Wang # '' Vitis jinzhainensis'' X.S.Shen # ''

Vitis kaihuaica ''Vitis'' (grapevine) is a genus of 81 accepted species of vining plants in the flowering plant family Vitaceae. The genus consists of species predominantly from the Northern Hemisphere. It is economically important as the source of grapes, bot ...

'' Z.H.Chen, Feng Chen & W.Y Xie # '' Vitis kiusiana'' Momiy. # ''

Vitis lanceolatifoliosa ''Vitis'' (grapevine) is a genus of 81 accepted species of vining plants in the flowering plant family Vitaceae. The genus consists of species predominantly from the Northern Hemisphere. It is economically important as the source of grapes, bot ...

'' C.L.Li # '' Vitis longquanensis'' P.L.Chiu # ''

Vitis luochengensis ''Vitis'' (grapevine) is a genus of 81 accepted species of vining plants in the flowering plant family Vitaceae. The genus consists of species predominantly from the Northern Hemisphere. It is economically important as the source of grapes, bot ...

'' W.T.Wang # '' Vitis menghaiensis'' C.L.Li # '' Vitis mengziensis'' C.L.Li # '' Vitis metziana'' Miq. # ''

Vitis monticola ''Vitis'' (grapevine) is a genus of 81 accepted species of vining plants in the flowering plant family Vitaceae. The genus consists of species predominantly from the Northern Hemisphere. It is economically important as the source of grapes, bot ...

'' Buckley # '' Vitis mustangensis'' Buckley # '' Vitis nesbittiana'' Comeaux # '' Vitis × novae-angliae'' Fernald # '' Vitis novogranatensis'' Moldenke # '' Vitis nuristanica'' Vassilcz. # '' Vitis palmata'' Vahl # ''

Vitis pedicellata ''Vitis'' (grapevine) is a genus of 81 accepted species of vining plants in the flowering plant family Vitaceae. The genus consists of species predominantly from the Northern Hemisphere. It is economically important as the source of grapes, bot ...

'' M.A.Lawson # '' Vitis peninsularis'' M.E.Jones # '' Vitis piasezkii'' Maxim. # '' Vitis pilosonervia'' F.P.Metcalf # ''

Vitis popenoei ''Vitis popenoei'', commonly called the totoloche, or totoloche grape, is a New World species of liana in the grape family native to Belize, Mexico (Chiapas, Hidalgo, Oaxaca, Puebla, Tabasco, Veracruz, and eastern Querétaro), and north-centra ...

'' J.L.Fennell # '' Vitis pseudoreticulata'' W.T.Wang # ''

Vitis quinlingensis ''Vitis'' (grapevine) is a genus of 81 accepted species of vining plants in the flowering plant family Vitaceae. The genus consists of species predominantly from the Northern Hemisphere. It is economically important as the source of grapes, bot ...

'' P.C.He # '' Vitis retordii'' Rom.Caill. ex Planch. # ''

Vitis romanetii ''Vitis'' (grapevine) is a genus of 81 accepted species of vining plants in the flowering plant family Vitaceae. The genus consists of species predominantly from the Northern Hemisphere. It is economically important as the source of grapes, bot ...

'' Rom.Caill. # '' Vitis ruyuanensis'' C.L.Li # ''

Vitis saccharifera ''Vitis'' (grapevine) is a genus of 81 accepted species of vining plants in the flowering plant family Vitaceae. The genus consists of species predominantly from the Northern Hemisphere. It is economically important as the source of grapes, bot ...

'' Makino # ''

Vitis shenxiensis ''Vitis'' (grapevine) is a genus of 81 accepted species of vining plants in the flowering plant family Vitaceae. The genus consists of species predominantly from the Northern Hemisphere. It is economically important as the source of grapes, bot ...

'' C.L.Li # ''

Vitis shizishanensis ''Vitis'' (grapevine) is a genus of 81 accepted species of vining plants in the flowering plant family Vitaceae. The genus consists of species predominantly from the Northern Hemisphere. It is economically important as the source of grapes, bot ...

'' Z.Y.Ma, J.Wen, Q.Fu & X.Q.Liu # ''

Vitis shuttleworthii ''Vitis shuttleworthii'' is a North American liana (woody vine) in the grape family commonly known as the calloose grape or bear grape (alternatively referred as calusa grape). The name refers to the group of Native American people that resided ...

'' House # ''

Vitis silvestrii ''Vitis'' (grapevine) is a genus of 81 accepted species of vining plants in the flowering plant family Vitaceae. The genus consists of species predominantly from the Northern Hemisphere. It is economically important as the source of grapes, bot ...

'' Pamp. # '' Vitis sinocinerea'' W.T.Wang # '' Vitis sinoternata'' W.T.Wang # '' Vitis tiliifolia'' Humb. & Bonpl. ex Schult. # '' Vitis tsoi'' Merr. # '' Vitis wenchowensis'' C.Ling # '' Vitis wenxianensis'' W.T.Wang # '' Vitis wilsoniae'' H.J.Veitch # '' Vitis wuhanensis'' C.L.Li # '' Vitis xunyangensis'' P.C.He # '' Vitis yunnanensis'' C.L.Li # ''

Vitis zhejiang-adstricta ''Vitis'' (grapevine) is a genus of 81 accepted species of vining plants in the flowering plant family Vitaceae. The genus consists of species predominantly from the Northern Hemisphere. It is economically important as the source of grapes, bot ...

'' P.L.Chiu There are many

cultivars A cultivar is a kind of cultivated plant that people have selected for desired traits and which retains those traits when propagated. Methods used to propagate cultivars include division, root and stem cuttings, offsets, grafting, tissue cult ...

of grapevines; most are cultivars of ''V. vinifera''. One of them includes,

Vitis 'Ornamental Grape' ''Vitis'' 'Ornamental Grape', also known as ornamental grapevine, Ganzin glory, glory vine and crimson glory, is a nonfruiting ornamental plant that is a Hybrid (biology), hybrid of ''Vitis vinifera'' (Aramon (grape), Aramon noir) and ''Vitis rup ...

Hybrid Hybrid may refer to: Science * Hybrid (biology), an offspring resulting from cross-breeding ** Hybrid grape, grape varieties produced by cross-breeding two ''Vitis'' species ** Hybridity, the property of a hybrid plant which is a union of two diff ...

grapes also exist, and these are primarily crosses between ''V. vinifera'' and one or more of ''V. labrusca'', ''V. riparia'' or ''V. aestivalis''. Hybrids tend to be less susceptible to frost and disease (notably

phylloxera Grape phylloxera is an insect pest of grapevines worldwide, originally native to eastern North America. Grape phylloxera (''Daktulosphaira vitifoliae'' (Fitch 1855) belongs to the family Phylloxeridae, within the order Hemiptera, bugs); orig ...

), but wine from some hybrids may have a little of the characteristic "foxy" taste of ''V. labrusca''. The

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

word ''Vitis'' is feminine, and therefore adjectival species names take feminine forms, such as ''V. vinifera''.

Ecology

Phylloxera Grape phylloxera is an insect pest of grapevines worldwide, originally native to eastern North America. Grape phylloxera (''Daktulosphaira vitifoliae'' (Fitch 1855) belongs to the family Phylloxeridae, within the order Hemiptera, bugs); orig ...

is an American root aphid that devastated ''V. vinifera'' vineyards in Europe when accidentally introduced in the late 19th century. Attempts were made to breed in resistance from American species, but many winemakers and customers did not like the unusual flavour profile of the hybrid vines. However, ''V. vinifera'' grafts readily onto rootstocks of the American species and their hybrids with ''V. vinifera'', and most commercial production of grapes now relies on such grafts. The

black vine weevil Black is a color that results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without chroma, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness.Eva Heller, ''Psyc ...

is another root pest. Grapevines are used as food plants by the

larva A larva (; : larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into their next life stage. Animals with indirect development such as insects, some arachnids, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase ...

e of some

Lepidoptera Lepidoptera ( ) or lepidopterans is an order (biology), order of winged insects which includes butterflies and moths. About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera have been described, representing 10% of the total described species of living organ ...

species.

Commercial distribution

According to the UN's

Food and Agriculture Organization The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; . (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger and improve nutrition and food security. Its Latin motto, , translates ...

(FAO), 75,866 square kilometres of the world is dedicated to grapes. Approximately 71% of world grape production is used for wine, 27% as fresh fruit, and 2% as dried fruit. A portion of grape production goes to producing grape juice to be used as a sweetener for fruits canned "with no added sugar" and "100% natural". The area dedicated to vineyards is increasing by about 2% per year. The following list of top wine-producers shows the corresponding areas dedicated to grapes (regardless of the grapes' final destination):

Domestic cultivation

Grapevines are widely cultivated by gardeners, and numerous suppliers cater specifically for this trade. The plants are valued for their decorative foliage, often colouring brightly in autumn; their ability to clothe walls,

pergola A pergola is most commonly used as an outdoor garden feature forming a shaded walkway, passageway, or sitting area of vertical posts or pillars that usually support crossbeams and a sturdy open lattice, often upon which woody vines are t ...

s and arches, thus providing shade; and their fruits, which may be eaten as dessert or provide the basis for homemade wines. Popular varieties include:- * Buckland Sweetwater' (white dessert) *'

Chardonnay Chardonnay (, ; ) is a green-skinned grape variety used in the production of white wine. The variety originated in the Burgundy wine region of eastern France, but is now grown wherever wine is produced, from England to New Zealand. For new a ...

' (white wine) *' Foster's Seedling' (white dessert) *'

Grenache Grenache (; ) or Garnacha () is one of the most widely planted red wine grape varieties in the world. Niels Lillelund: ''Rhône-Vinene'' p. 25, JP Bøger – JP/Politikens Forlagshus A/S, 2004. . It ripens late, so it needs hot, dry condi ...

' (red wine) *'

Muscat of Alexandria Muscat of Alexandria is a white wine grape that is a member of the Muscat family of ''Vitis vinifera''. It is considered an "ancient vine", and wine experts believe it is one of the oldest genetically unmodified vines still in existence.J. Robi ...

' (white dessert) *'

Müller-Thurgau Müller-Thurgau () is a white grape variety (sp. ''Vitis vinifera'') which was created by Hermann Müller from the Swiss Canton of Thurgau in 1882 at the Geisenheim Grape Breeding Institute in Germany. It is a crossing of Riesling with Made ...

' (white wine) *' Phoenix' (white wine) *'

Pinot noir Pinot noir (), also known as Pinot nero, is a red-wine grape variety of the species ''Vitis vinifera''. The name also refers to wines created predominantly from Pinot noir grapes. The name is derived from the French language, French words fo ...

' (red wine) *'

Regent In a monarchy, a regent () is a person appointed to govern a state because the actual monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge their powers and duties, or the throne is vacant and a new monarch has not yet been dete ...

' (red wine) *'

Schiava Grossa Trollinger, Schiava, or Vernatsch, is a red German/Italian wine grape variety that was likely first originally cultivated in the wine regions of South Tyrol and Trentino, but today is almost exclusively cultivated on steep, sunny locations in t ...

' (red dessert) *'

Seyval blanc Seyval blanc (; or Seyve-Villard hybrid number 5276winepros.com.au ) is a hybrid wine grape variety used to make white wines. Its vines ripen early, are productive and are suited to fairly cool climates. Seyval blanc is grown mainly in England,wi ...

' (white wine) *'

Tempranillo Tempranillo (also known as Ull de Llebre, Cencibel, Tinto Fino and Tinta del País in Spain, Aragonez or Tinta Roriz in Portugal, and several other synonyms elsewhere) is a black grape variety widely grown to make full-bodied red wines in it ...

' (red wine) The following varieties have gained the

Royal Horticultural Society The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), founded in 1804 as the Horticultural Society of London, is the UK's leading gardening charity. The RHS promotes horticulture through its five gardens at Wisley (Surrey), Hyde Hall (Essex), Harlow Carr ...

Award of Garden Merit The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a long-established award for plants by the British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). It is based on assessment of the plants' performance under UK growing conditions. It includes the full range of cultivated p ...

:- *'Boskoop Glory' (dessert/wine) *'Brant' (black dessert) *'Claret Cloak' or 'Frovit' (ornamental) *'New York Muscat' (black dessert) *'Purpurea' (ornamental)

Uses

The fruit of several ''Vitis'' species are grown commercially for consumption as fresh grapes and for fermentation into

. ''Vitis vinifera'' is the most important such species. The

leaves A leaf (: leaves) is a principal appendage of the stem of a vascular plant, usually borne laterally above ground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, stem, ...

of several species of grapevine are edible and are used in the production of

dolmades Dolma (Turkish language, Turkish for "stuffed") is a family of stuffed dishes associated with Ottoman cuisine, typically made with a filling of rice, minced meat, offal, seafood, fruit, or any combination of these inside either a leaf wrapping ...

and Vietnamese lot leaves.

Culture

The grapevine (typically ''Vitis vinifera'') has been used as a symbol since ancient times. In

Greek mythology Greek mythology is the body of myths originally told by the Ancient Greece, ancient Greeks, and a genre of ancient Greek folklore, today absorbed alongside Roman mythology into the broader designation of classical mythology. These stories conc ...

Dionysus In ancient Greek religion and Greek mythology, myth, Dionysus (; ) is the god of wine-making, orchards and fruit, vegetation, fertility, festivity, insanity, ritual madness, religious ecstasy, and theatre. He was also known as Bacchus ( or ; ...

(called

Bacchus In ancient Greek religion and myth, Dionysus (; ) is the god of wine-making, orchards and fruit, vegetation, fertility, festivity, insanity, ritual madness, religious ecstasy, and theatre. He was also known as Bacchus ( or ; ) by the Gre ...

by the Ancient Romans, Romans) was god of the vintage and, therefore, a grapevine with bunches of the fruit are among his attributes. His attendants at the Bacchanalian festivals hence had the vine as an attribute, together with the thyrsus, the latter often entwined with vine branches. For the same reason, the Greek wine cup (cantharos) is commonly decorated with the vine and grapes, wine being drunk as a libation to the god. The grapevine has a profound symbolic meaning in Jewish culture, Jewish tradition and culture since antiquity.Wulkan, Reba, "The Grape and the Vine: A Motif in Contemporary Jewish Textiles" (1998). Textile Society of America Symposium Proceedings. 217. It is referenced 55 times in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), along with grapes and wine, which are also frequently mentioned (55 and 19, respectively). It is regarded as one of the Seven Species, and is employed several times in the Bible as a symbol of the Israelites as the Jews as the chosen people, chosen people., The grapevine has a prominent place in Jewish prayer, Jewish rituals: the wine was given a special blessing, "creator of the fruit of the vine", and the Kiddush blessing is recited over wine or grape juice on Shabbat and Jewish holidays. It is also employed in various parables and sayings in rabbinic literature. According to Josephus and the Mishnah, a golden vine was hung over the inner chamber of the Second Temple. The grapevine is featured on Hasmonean coinage, Hasmonean and Bar Kokhba Revolt coinage, Bar Kokhba revolt coinage, and as a decoration in mosaic floors of Ancient synagogues in Palestine, ancient synagogues. In Christian iconography, the vine also frequently appears. It is mentioned several times in the New Testament. We have the parable of the Kingship and kingdom of God, kingdom of heaven likened to the father starting to engage laborers for his vineyard. The vine is used as symbol of Jesus Christ based on his own statement, "I am the true vine (John 15:1)." In that sense, a vine is placed as sole symbol on the tomb of Flavia Julia Constantia, Constantia, the sister of Constantine the Great, and elsewhere. In Byzantine art, the vine and grapes figure in early mosaics, and on the throne of Maximianus of Ravenna it is used as a decoration. The vine and wheat Ear (botany), ear have been frequently used as symbol of the blood and flesh of Christ, hence figuring as symbols (bread and wine) of the Eucharist and are found depicted on Ostensory, ostensories. Often the symbolic vine laden with grapes is found in ecclesiastical decorations with animals biting at the grapes. At times, the vine is used as symbol of temporal blessing. In Mandaeism, uthras (angels or celestial beings) are often described as personified grapevines ().

References

Notes

Citations

External links

* *
List of 48 descriptors
defined in the GRAPEGEN06 project (selected from the 151 Office International de la Vigne et du Vin, OIV descriptors published in June 2007) {{Authority control Vitis, Vitaceae genera Vines Viticulture, . Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus Extant Selandian first appearances

Description

Species

Ecology

Commercial distribution

Domestic cultivation

Uses

Culture

See also

References

Notes

Citations

Further reading

External links