Book of Mediterranean Trees, Shrubs and Climbers
Index
Family
Vitaceae
Genus
Vitis
Species
vinifera
Properties
shrub
Vitis vinifera (common grape vine) is a species of Vitis, native to the
Mediterranean region, central Europe, and southwestern Asia, from Morocco and Portugal
north to southern Germany and east to northern Iran. There are currently between 5,000
and 10,000 varieties of Vitis vinifera grapes though only a few are of commercial
significance for wine and table grape production. It is a liana growing to 35 yards (32
m) in length, with flaky bark. The leaves are alternate, palmately lobed, 5–20 cm
(2.0–7.9 in) long and broad. The fruit is a berry, known as a grape; in the wild species
it is 6 mm (0.24 in) diameter and ripens dark purple to blackish with a pale wax bloom;
in cultivated plants it is usually much larger, up to 3 cm (1.2 in) long, and can be
green, red, or purple (black). The species typically occurs in humid forests and
streamsides. The wild grape is often classified as V. vinifera subsp. sylvestris (in
some classifications considered Vitis sylvestris), with V. vinifera subsp. vinifera
restricted to cultivated forms. Domesticated vines have hermaphrodite flowers, but
subsp. sylvestris is dioecious (male and female flowers on separate plants) and
pollination is required for fruit to develop. The grape is eaten fresh, processed to
make wine or juice, or dried to produce raisins. Cultivars of Vitis vinifera form the
basis of the majority of wines produced around the world. All of the familiar wine
varieties belong to Vitis vinifera, which is cultivated on every continent except for
Antarctica, and in all the major wine regions of the world.
