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Mtsvane Kakhuri

The morphological analysis of the variety has shown that it is one of the oldest vines cultivated in Georgia. The first information about it dates back to the fifth century AD. In 1901-1910 the variety was described in detail in the Ampelography of Viala and Vermorel (1907-1910). Particularly common in eastern Georgia until the XIX century, its cultivation was reduced because of the spreading of downy mildew. There have been recent attempts to reintroduce it by expanding the cultivation area.

Budburst period: late.
Ripening period: medium-late.
Yield: average.

Ampelographic characters:

the edge of the young bud is covered in thick hairs. The adult leaf is medium sized, orbicular, and three- or five-lobed. The upper sinuses are wide open with a U-shaped base, the lower ones with a U-shaped or V-shaped base. The petiolar sinus is closed, with a U-shaped base. The lower side is covered in thick hairs. The cluster is medium-sized, conical, sometimes winged, and medium-compact or sparse. The berry is medium-sized, oval and green-yellow in colour. The skin is thin. The pulp is juicy and soft, with a pleasant sweet and distinctive taste with varietal aroma.

Cultural aptitude:

semi-upright growth habit, averagely vigorous.

Training system and pruning:

it prefers loose soils, well exposed and in sunny areas. It bears winter cold but not summer drought. The ideal training system is the double Guyot, with 30-40 buds per vine and spur. Before the bud-burst, a topping is made.

Susceptibility to diseases and adverse conditions:

susceptible to powdery mildew, good resistance to downy mildew.

Enological potential:

yellow coloured wine with greenish reflections, fresh, dry, harmonious, with a pleasant and special bouquet. It improves with aging. The wine can be “ready to drink” or aged, used as a base for sparkling wines or for the production of sweet or sparkling wines. Generally vinified with grapes of Rkatsiteli variety

Clones in propagation:

VCR64.

MTSVANE KAKHURI

VCR64

Origin: Georgia

Vigour

Cluster

Berry

Yield

VARIETY AVERAGE

SENSORY ANALYSIS

—●— Variety average

—●— VCR64

Description:

Biotype of limited vigour, with upright growth habit, medium, pyramidal, semi-sparse cluster, often with a very developed wing. The berry is averagely ovoid, with thick skin of yellow color with greenish reflections and quite conspicuous navel; the pulp is juicy with a lightly aromatic, distinctive taste. Fertility and yield are slightly higher than the varietal average. The wine is golden yellow, fresh, harmoniously tasting, quite ample, characterized by fruity hints of ripe apple, apricot, citrus and balsamic sensations of herbs and mint. On the palate it is structured with a pleasing, savoury-enhancing acidulous note. Suitable for production of young wines, often blended with Rkatsiteli, as well as more complex, short aging wines. In the area of origin, it is appreciated and commonly produced in its sweet version.