In Spain, only high-yielding crops with good taste are chosen for wine. These include the Garnacha grape variety. It produces rosé, mature wines. Its pulp contains little sugar, so it is suitable for children and people on a diet.
Characteristics of the Garnacha grape variety
Characteristics of grapes
The Garnacha grape is often blended with other grapes to produce the famous fortified Spanish and French sweet wines. In France it is called Grenache. The alcohol level is high. Combines several varieties.
It is a thermophilic species that tolerates drought and heat well. Garnacha has a long growing season, some berries do not ripen and fall off.
300 g contains only 210 kl. In juices, this figure rises several times due to glucose and fructose. Also, berries contain a large amount of vitamins A, B, K, PP and useful trace elements.
Even in dry climates, the bush yields 20 c / ha. It is wind resistant. The root system grows deeply into the soil and takes root from the first weeks of planting. The frost tolerance of the culture is slightly lower than that of other representatives of the grape. At temperatures below -18 ° C, the plant begins to ache and may die.
Varieties of varieties
- Grenache Noir - for making red wine;
- Grenache Gris - for making a pink drink;
- Grenache Blanc - white grapes give the wine a straw color.
All varieties require proper care and plenty of light. Only a warm climate without strong, cold winds is chosen for planting.
Description of the bush and fruit
The bushes of the culture are vigorous, with strong branches and a stable trunk. Leaves are small, three-lobed, dark green in color.
On the one hand, the leaf of Grenache is shiny, on the other - rough, with a slight spider-web pubescence.
A strong root allows you not to water the plant for a long time. The vine begins to bloom early. The bunches are medium-sized, conical in shape. Its berries are also not large with a dense skin, purple-pink or green. The pulp is juicy and contains a lot of sugar. In Spain, berries are prized for their sweet, rich taste.
Growing grapes
To grow Grenache grapes, several points must be taken into account:
- The right choice of place and region is dry summers, warm winters. Plenty of sunshine.
- Plant in non-acidic, unsalted soil.
- Planting dates are autumn or spring.
- They are planted at a distance of 1.5 m from each other.
- With high humidity, the plant begins to ache and rot.
Before planting in open ground, the plant is fertilized, a hole is dug about 1 m deep. At the bottom of the hole, drainage from sand, sawdust and fertilizer is placed. After planting, the bush is watered abundantly.
Plant care
The plant needs good care.
Culture care:
- The first watering is carried out in the spring using warm water. If it is necessary to suspend the growing season, watering is done with cold water. For 1 bush 200-300 liters. Winegrowers advise to make drainage for irrigation - several holes with tubes 7 cm in diameter per bush. The drainage method of irrigation is deeper.
- Loosening and mulching of the soil. So that the soil around the bush is not taken with a crust, it is mulched and loosened. For mulch, choose sawdust, dried grass, straw. Dig up the soil no deeper than 15 cm.
- Pruning. Forms the crown of the vine. Prune the vine in the fall, when the movement of juices stops. And in the spring they do sanitary cleaning. Pruning dry shoots only. Remove the lower, diseased, cracked branches and new shoots.
- Shelter for the winter. In the early years, seedlings are covered in the winter. For this, use a light cloth or plastic wrap. They remove the shelter at the end of spring, when the frost stops.
Together with the seedling, a support is placed in the hole to help the trunk to strengthen. Weeds around the plant should be constantly removed. Pruning is done with pruning shears or garden shears (before that, you need to disinfect). Cutting points are treated with potassium permanganate or paint.
Fertilizer
For culture, fertilizers are applied to the soil to stimulate growth or prevention, or spray the bushes with drugs. Top dressing for grapes must contain nutrients:
- nitrogen;
- phosphorus;
- potassium;
- copper;
- boron;
- zinc.
Fertilize in the spring. The first feeding is done after removing the shelter. To do this, mix 20 liters of water, 40 g of superphosphate, 20 g of ammonium nitrate and 10 g of potassium salt. The solution is enough for 2 bushes. After harvesting, spraying with chemicals is carried out:
- "Aquarin";
- "Novofert"
- "Solution";
- Florovit.
These are complex fertilizers that help restore the balance of nutrients in the vine sap. For feeding, manure and sugar-glycerin solution are often also chosen. For it, mix 100 g of sugar or 60 g of glycerin. The solution strengthens the outer foliage.
Diseases and pests
Garnacha's diseases:
- powdery mildew;
- anthracnose;
- mildew.
Diseases affect the leaves, shoots and berries of the plant. Mildew is treated with drugs: "Ditan", "Acrobat MC", "Orius", "Mancoceb" or "Tridex". To combat powdery mildew, choose "Bnomil", "Strobi" or "Impact". They are bred with water according to the instructions.
CAVA is the sparkling pride of Spain!
Requena-Utiel Wine Region, Spain
In addition to diseases, insects harm the plant:
- Spider mite. Nutrients are sucked out of the trunk, which leads to the death of the branches.
- Aphid. Small insects that eat foliage and fruits.
- Acacia false shield. A dark yellow insect that forms bulges on the trunks with its body. It makes the bush weak and it shrinks.
- Leaf roll. Their caterpillar eats leaves, fruits. After which the foliage falls off, and the fruits are deformed.
Chemical preparations to combat leafworm and false shield:
- Fufanon-Nova;
- Aliot;
- Inta-Vir;
- "Decis".
Aphids will disappear after being treated with a solution of ash. For this, 300 g of ash is boiled for 30 minutes in 10 liters of water, cooled and 40 g of soap is added. Acaricides are used against spider mites - neoron and omite. Plants are treated with preparations 2 times every 10 days until the insects are completely destroyed.
Conclusion
The Garnacha grape variety is a fruit with a thick skin and sweet pulp. Often exposed to powdery rose diseases and mildew, if the amount of moisture in the soil is more than necessary. For cultivation, they choose warm regions with a dry climate. Refers to white and black grape varieties.