Rkatsiteli

This variety is widespread in all the wine-growing regions of the former Soviet Union, Bulgaria, Romania and Serbia.

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

Ampelographic characters:

vine with a high variability in terms of vigour, cluster, berry shape and size, and yield potential. The bud apex is open, wooly and slightly bronzed-yellow in color. The leaves are medium-sized, orbicular, three- or five-lobed, and sometimes whole. The open petiolar sinus has a lyre-shaped base. The underside is tomentose and can be either arachnoid or woolly. The medium-sized, compact-to-sparse cluster is conical-cylindrical in shape, sometimes with long lateral wings. The berry is medium-to-large in size and can be oval or round.

Cultural aptitude:

vine of medium vigour with an upright growth habit. It adapts to different types of soil, although too fertile and humid soils should be avoided.

Training system and pruning:

it prefers medium-long pruning. Suitable for Guyot, “pergola” and Sylvoz training systems.

Susceptibility to diseases and adverse conditions:

susceptible to powdery mildew, good resistance to winter cold.

Enological potential:

it gives wines of good alcohol content and freshness with a scant body and a slight varietal aroma. Fairly valuable sparkling wines are also produced.

Clones in propagation:

Rkatsiteli VCR104, VCR105, VCR106, VCR107.

Clones undergoing homologation procedure:

VCR305, VCR307, VCR316, VCR317.

Rkatsiteli

VCR104

Origin: Georgia

Vigour

Cluster

Berry

Yield

VARIETY AVERAGE

SENSORY ANALYSIS

—●— Variety average

—●— VCR104

Description:

biotype with a good cluster vigor slightly less than medium, cylindrical, elongated, half-angle, with two short wings. Medium-sized berry, ovoid, with a firm skin of golden colour which gainsh amber reflections if exposed to the sun. Excellent fertility of the buds if compared to the varietal standard; the productivity is more than good.
It gives straw-yellow wines with greenish reflections. The bouquet recalls exotic fruits with citrus hints; good acidity and flavor, with a slight dry herbaceous aftertaste. To be consumed young. Also suitable for sparkling wine.

Rkatsiteli

VCR105

Origin: Georgia

Vigour

Cluster

Berry

Yield

VARIETY AVERAGE

SENSORY ANALYSIS

—●— Variety average

—●— VCR105

Description:

biotype of excellent vigor with large, cylindrical, very elongated, semi-compact cluster with two medium-short wings. The berry is large, ovoid-shaped and firm-skinned, golden-yellow in color with greenish reflections. The fertility is good, the production is excellent.
It gives straw-yellow wines with delicate floral aromas (white flowers) slightly overwhelmed by spicy hints, in particular anise and licorice. It is rather acidulous, savory, with a good structure. Suitable for production of still wines to be consumed fresh or for medium aging.

Rkatsiteli

VCR106

Origin: Georgia

Vigour

Cluster

Berry

Yield

VARIETY AVERAGE

SENSORY ANALYSIS

—●— Variety average

—●— VCR106

Description:

vigorous biotype, the cluster is small, cylindrical, slightly elongated, semi-compact and rarely winged. The berry is medium-sized and ovoid-shaped, with firm skin and golden-yellow in color with greenish hues. The fertility and production factors are slightly lower than the varietal standard.
It gives wines of a straw-yellow color with a wide and complex bouquet evolving on the palate from floral to spicy, with a mild herbaceous note. Gifted with good acidity and excellently structured; the aftertaste is reminiscent of pleasant licorice hints. Suitable for still structured wines or for short aging in wooden barrels or barriques.

Rkatsiteli

VCR107

Origin: Georgia

Vigour

Cluster

Berry

Yield

VARIETY AVERAGE

SENSORY ANALYSIS

—●— Variety average

—●— VCR107

Description:

this biotype has good vigor. The cluster is medium-large in size, cylindrical-pyramidal in shape, elongated, semi-compact and with two medium-sized wings. It often can be found only one highly developed wing. The cluster is medium-sized, ovoid-shaped with a firm skin, golden-yellow in color with greenish reflections. The fertility factor is within the varietal average, the production is good and balanced.
It gives pale straw-yellow wines with greenish reflections; the aroma is reminiscent of citrusy fruits with strong spicy hints, in particular Mediterranean spices (oregano). Fresh wine, with excellent acidity and good structure, suitable for fresh consumption or for sparkling wine production. It can also be used as a corrective in blend with other wines.