The Varieties

Following the great success achieved with the “Rauscedo” series, which still includes excellent clones such as Cabernet Sauvignon Rauscedo 5, Chardonnay Rauscedo 8, Sangiovese Rauscedo 24, Sauvignon Rauscedo 3, etc., in 1990 the new “VCR” series was released. These biotypes stand out for the strict sanitary control which has been extended to all the most dangerous and widespread grapevine viruses, in particular to grapevine fanleaf disease, grapevine leafroll disease and rugose wood complex, and for the great attention paid to genetic improvement through the identification of quality/quantity highly performative biotypes to meet the needs of modern viticulture.

VCR clonal selection is not only limited to classic varieties and local Italian-grown cultivars: improvement programs also include a wide number of grape varieties native to the most important wine-growing regions worldwide. Since the late 1980s an intense activity of varietal surveys has been being performed in Greece among the most famous local grapes such as Mandilari, Liatiko, Vidiano, Limnio, Moschofilero, Aghiorghitiko, in Serbia and Montenegro with Prokupac, Plavac mali, Vranac, Kratošija e Krstac and in the Czech Republic on some varieties from Moravia, the wine-growing area par excellence of that country. More recently, important selections have been carried out on Georgian varieties such as Saperavi, Alexandrouli, Mujuretuli, Rkatsiteli, Khikhvi, Tsulukidzis t., Mtsvane k., Ojaleshi. Last but not least a rich population of biotypes has been selected in the Iberian countries: from the best known and widespread Airen, Tempranillo, Bobal e Monastrell, to the more local Castelao, Touriga nacional, Arinto, Albarinho, Trincadeira (in Portugal) and Macabeo, Parellada, Palomino and Pedro ximenez (in Spain).

VCR’s varietal surveys aim at enhancing the ampelographic legacy of several winegrowing countries, by focusing also on the less-known cultivars, which, in spite of their limited diffusion, play a key role in giving us an accurate portray of the personality of each wine-growing region. Just to name a few: Nitra, Noria, Devin, Hron, Rimava, Dunaj and Vah in Slovakia; Trnjak, Blatina, and Zilavka in Croatia Feteasca alba e neagra, Sarba and Galbena de Odobesti in Romania.

Currently, thanks to the introduction of a new automatic grafting machine, the “Celerina Plus”, designed and patented by Vivai Cooperativi Rauscedo, the production of saw-type grafts has been resumed. This machine allows a continuous disinfection of the blades and a perfect union between scion and rootstock, which is due to the formation of a more regular and solid callus than in other grafting techniques. For winegrowers this is a factor of paramount importance, since it has a direct impact on the profitability of their investments in viticulture. What winegrowers worldwide actually need is a uniform, healthy, productive and long-lasting vineyard. Starting from a top-quality grafted vine has now become a necessary pre-condition!

Since its origins VCR offer has been characterized with innovation and applied research in their different forms and declinations: from the improvement of the grafting technique and the introduction of clone selection, through the implementation of micropropagation, green grafting, tissue restoration, up to the recent partnerships with the Universities of Udine and Milan and the Institute of Applied Genomics, which have allowed Vivai Cooperativi Rauscedo to become the one and only worldwide licensee of 14 disease-resistant varieties and 4 M-series rootstocks.