Grape variety Carmenere: variety description, photos, reviews

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Many high-yielding grape varieties are grown specifically for making wines. A distinctive feature of such varieties of culture is the rich blue color of the berries. The grape variety Carmenere also belongs to this group.

A bit of history

Initially, this grape began to be grown in France. Distributed in this country, Carmenere was once very widespread. In fact, they did not make wine from it in France. However, the berries of this variety were often used here for blending. At the same time, the percentage of Carmenère in such wines usually did not exceed 4%.

In 1867 in France and throughout Europe, this variety was completely destroyed by phyllopsera and for a long time was considered lost. But in 1994, the French ampelographer Michel Boursicot accidentally discovered this grape in Chile. Until that time, the farmers of this country did not even suspect that they were growing Carmenere. They called the grapes they cultivated Chilean Merlot.

It was later suggested that growing the Carménère grape variety in the 19th century. farmersChile became by mistake. Apparently, the workers who packed the seedlings for shipment to America once simply mixed up the names of the varieties. Carmenere arrived in Chile as Merlot.

Currently, this variety is grown throughout this country and is used to make mostly young wines with a slightly grassy aftertaste. In Europe, such grapes are practically not cultivated.

Grape variety Carmenere: general description

The bushes of this variety are distinguished, first of all, by their high growth force. The leaves of the variety have the usual shape, not pubescent. On the branches they grow quite densely. In autumn, the leaves of Carmenera turn bright red. Hence, in fact, the name of the variety (bright red in French) came from.

The fruitfulness of the eyes, especially at the base of the shoot, this grape is not very high. Experts recommend long pruning for this variety.

This grape does not tolerate cold very well, and therefore it can be grown only in warm regions. When the ambient temperature drops, Carmenère can easily drop the ovaries. The maximum that these grapes can withstand is a short-term drop in temperature to 22 ° C.

This variety is considered resistant to most fungal diseases. It is most likely to be affected during epidemics by powdery mildew and phyllopsera.

Of course, many owners of suburban areas who decide to grow the Carmenère grape variety are interested in when the harvest of such berries is best done. This appliesvariety to the mid-season group. That is, the Carmenere berries ripen about 4 months after the leaves bloom.

Carmenere grape variety: a description of the taste of fruits and their characteristics

Clusters of Carmenère grapes can be both cylindrical and cone-shaped. The berries of this variety are medium in size. They are round in shape and dark blue in color. The pulp of the berries is tender and very juicy. It has a sweet, slightly herbaceous taste. There is a lot of tannin in Carmenera berries.

Only fully ripe brushes of this variety are used for making wine. Greenish berries make this alcoholic drink unripe.

Productivity with proper care of the Carmenere grape variety is quite high. Experienced growers can collect up to 20 kg of berries from one bush. Transportation brushes of this variety, unfortunately, are not well tolerated. Berries from Carmenere bunches often fall off during transportation.

The advantages of the fruits of this variety include, among other things, the optimal indicators for making wine of sugar content and acidity - 23/8.

Where to plant

The answer to the question of where the Carménère grape variety grows in the first place, of course, is Chile. Also, this variety is often grown in the United States. In any case, a distinctive feature of the Carménère grape, in addition to poor resistance to cold, is that it does not tolerate wind very well. Therefore, this variety should be planted on hillocks with a leewardsides or behind the walls of buildings.

Carmenère grape soil likes well-drained and nutritious. It grows very poorly in wetlands. In Chile, this grape is often planted on rocky soils. It is believed that the wines from the berries grown in such areas of Carménère are of better quality.

Landing

So, what does the Carmenere grape variety look like, what does it look like, and what biological features does it have, we found out. But what is the right way to plant such plants? It is necessary to place Carmenere grapes on the site in places protected from the wind on good soil. Holes for seedlings of this variety are usually dug 80 x 80 cm in size. The grapes are deepened when planted to the root collar. Previously, a drainage system using perforated pipes must be equipped on the site without fail.

The seedling installed in the hole is covered with earth and rammed. Next, the plants are well watered with warm water. Planting Carmenere is allowed both in early spring and in mid-autumn. At first, young plants are watered every 3-4 days.

Features of care

In the process of growing, this grape, like any other, is supposed to be watered and fertilized. Experienced growers recommend mulching newly planted seedlings with straw or sawdust.

Water this grape is supposed to be once every 1-1, 5 months. Water for moistening the soil under such vines is supposed to be used exclusively warm. Otherwise, the plants may get sick. Carmenere is also usually fed withwith a frequency of 1-1.5 months. Both mineral and organic compounds can be used as fertilizers for this variety.

Weeding this grape is carried out in the warm season as needed. Performing this operation, at the same time, without fail, loosen the soil under the plants.

In the spring and a couple of times during the season, Carmenère grapes are supposed to be treated with various kinds of chemical compounds to prevent diseases. It is recommended to use both antiparasitic and antifungal agents for this variety.

Cutting

It is necessary to form bushes of this grape, as already mentioned. Otherwise, the variety will significantly reduce the yield. Long pruning of Carmenera is carried out in most cases in the spring. In autumn, all dried and damaged shoots are removed from the bushes.

When doing long pruning, 50-60 eyes are left on each plant. At the same time, they make sure that about 10-15 of them remain on one shoot. A bunch for each branch of this variety is usually left only one.

Wine from Carmenère

In care, this grape variety can be considered quite whimsical. In any case, beginners should not undertake its cultivation. Carmenere is recommended for planting mainly only by experienced gardeners.

Growing this variety in the countryside is possible both simply for obtaining delicious berries, and for making wine. In Chile, such a drink is considered almost the hallmark of the country. The characteristics of Carmenère wine are, among other things, dark (burgundy to black) color and rich taste with a hint of currant.

On sale mainly comes a young alcoholic drink from the berries of the Carmenere grape variety. But sometimes wine from such fruits is aged for several years - from 3 to 10 years.

Reviews

The summer residents have a relatively good opinion about this grape. However, most gardeners recommend choosing a place for it as carefully as possible. From the wind, the vines of this variety should be protected as reliably as possible. Otherwise, as experienced growers note, it will not work to get large harvests from Carmenere. In terms of care, summer residents attribute the absence of stepchildren to the advantages of this variety. The beautiful color of the leaves in autumn is also considered a virtue of Carménère.

Gardeners do not recommend planting this variety in areas with an unstable climate. Perhaps the vines in such a region will continue to grow, but only weak crops can be harvested from them. The taste of this grape is highly praised by most gardeners. According to many summer residents, it strongly resembles a rich nightshade. In this regard, Carmenere, judging by the reviews, even surpasses the popular Cabernet Sauvignon.

Instead of a conclusion

So, we found out what the Carmenere grape is (variety description, reviews). In the photo on the page you can see how such bushes look on the site. This variety certainly deserves attention, but at the same time it is very whimsical. The technology of care when growing it in the country should be observed inaccuracy.