Saperavi grape

The Saperavi grape, also known as the Dyer, Kleinbeeriger, Didi Saperavi, belongs to the technical category. Despite its narrow specialization, it is highly regarded among winemakers in many countries of the world. The balanced combination of sweetness and acidity makes this variety a good choice for creating complex blends, original bouquet of the finished product. New wine-making hybrids are created on the basis of Saperavi.

The variety is typical for Georgia, the exact time of its receipt is unknown. It was entered into the State Register in 1959. It is characterized by mutations typical of ancient varieties, affecting the uniformity of the appearance of plants, their agrotechnical characteristics and fruiting.

Saperavi belongs to the grape varieties oriented towards cultivation in the Black Sea basin. For him, the Lower Volga and North Caucasian regions of admission are assigned. In Georgia, this variety is mainly grown in Kakheti. In Russia, it is successfully cultivated in the Kuban and Stavropol Territory, in Dagestan. In Ukraine, it grows in the southern regions, and is cultivated in other countries - from Moldova and Bulgaria to Armenia.

The growing season of the variety takes 150-160 days. It belongs to the late, requires the sum of active temperatures of at least 3000 degrees Celsius. Harvested no earlier than the 3rd decade of September or early October.

The bunches of grapes of this variety are broadly conical, often branched, loose, weighing 93-99 g. The length of the bunch is 130-170 mm and the width is 120-150 mm.

Saperavi bears fruit with dark blue oval medium-sized berries with a pronounced bloom of wax on the surface. There are 2-3 bones inside each. The berries are characterized by acidity in the range of 7.8-12.6 g / dm3, the sugar content varies from 170 to 211 g / dm3. The shell is thin but strong.

Saperavi has a refreshing taste, its pulp is juicy and pleasant. The variety is distinguished by the rich color of the pulp. Juice yield - up to 850 ml per 1 kg of berries.

The variety begins to bear fruit at the age of 4 years. Up to 25 seasons can be grown in one place. The average yield is 99-110 c / ha. The abundance of fruits depends on the growing conditions. In an unfavorable climate, peas of berries, shedding of flowers and ovaries are more often observed.

Saperavi is not very picky about the type of soil. The variety can be planted in almost any area, except for calcareous, saline, very swampy. It tolerates drought quite well; in severe frosts without shelter, it loses a significant part of its eyes.The most favorable for planting are the territories in which irrigated viticulture is carried out. The bush develops well, bears fruit abundantly on loose, air-permeable soils. In zones of conditionally covering viticulture, planting with the formation of a culture on a high stem is recommended.

For cultivation, it is recommended to choose an area open from the south, protected from wind and bad weather by artificial barriers in the north. It is important to provide the plants with good air exchange, but without a draft. Young bushes can be planted in places with incomplete lighting. Mature plants need maximum light as Saperavi matures late. When choosing a landing site, you should avoid the proximity of groundwater and rocks, sewers, buildings for keeping livestock.

The site is cleared, the soil surface is leveled, perennial weeds buried in the soil are removed. The pit is formed with a depth and diameter of about 1 m - this is due to the intensive growth of the root system of Saperavi grapes. A mixture of fertile soil with 2-3 buckets of organic matter and fertilizers in the form of superphosphate (up to 300 g), potassium salt (at least 100 g), ammonium nitrate (30-40 g) is placed in the resulting depression. In clay soils, the bottom of the planting pit is drained, in looser soils, coarse sand or fine gravel is simply added. The prepared substrate is watered abundantly, left for 1 month in the fall and 3-4 for the spring transfer of grapes to the ground.

Usually, the seedlings are placed in the soil as early as October, when the leaves are removed from the bushes. The optimal period is considered to be the period with night temperatures not lower than +5 degrees. In the spring, cuttings are planted, choosing for this April days starting from the 2nd decade. Plants with an open root system must first be soaked in water.

A depression is made in the hole 1/2 of its size, the rest of the soil is collected in a slide. A seedling with straightened roots is placed on it so that the root collar is 8-10 cm below the edge of the hole. Then the previously removed substrate is poured, a support with a garter is installed. The earth is rammed and watered abundantly.

Bisexual flowers are formed on the vines. Grapes do not require additional pollination, planting donor plants nearby.

On a bush of Saperavi grapes, 50-60 eyes are preserved. When pruning in the climate of Georgia, they are left at 10-12 per vine. In Crimea, this number is reduced to 6-8. A good harvest is obtained on old vines, therefore, the supply of darkened wood is necessarily kept here. The best fruiting indicators are obtained on shoots at least 15 years old with fan-shaped bush formation.

Saperavi is well adapted to droughts. The root system of an adult plant is buried 3-4 meters into the ground, and is capable of extracting moisture even in the absence of its supply in the form of precipitation. Additional watering is recommended only during bud break, at the end of flowering and at the moments when berries are juicy - 20 liters of water are added under the bush. Waterlogging of the soil during the flowering period will lead to shedding of the buds. At this time, it is better to refuse watering.

It is recommended to feed Saperavi twice during the season.The first time falls on the period when young shoots reach a length of 15 cm.At this moment, a solution of 15 g of nitrophoska per 10 liters of water is introduced into the soil in order to activate the growth of green mass. In the first decade of August, the 2nd feeding is carried out. A mixture of superphosphate in a volume of 20 g and 12 g of potassium sulfate is dissolved in 10 liters of water, fertilization is carried out after watering.

Saperavi grapes need shelter for the winter when grown in climates with temperatures below -20 degrees.

The variety is susceptible to the development of fungal diseases. Possesses low tolerance to mildew, oidium. With prolonged rainy periods, the likelihood of its defeat by gray rot increases. On calcareous soils, there is a high risk of chlorosis. Saperavi is practically unaffected by the grape leafworm.

Saperavi is a grape for technical use. It is customary to send it immediately for processing, so good storage resistance is useless here. Before harvesting, the bunches can be left on the vine for several weeks, as long as the weather permits.