Merlot grape: a grape variety
The “Merlot” grape is a technical variety that is grown for the purpose of making wine. His homeland is the French city of Bordeaux. Here it grows in huge quantities and is highly valued by winemakers, second only to another popular variety – Cabernet.
Grape variety “Merlot”: description
The fruits of this plant are not suitable for fresh consumption. They are only used to make wines. They are perfect for this and thus have earned such popularity among winemakers and connoisseurs of red wine.
Merlot grapes are not used for food, only for processing into wine
This variety has the following characteristics:
- The clusters are medium in size, their weight reaches 150 g, they grow in length by 13-18 cm. Outwardly, they look very attractive.
- Oval fruits of dark blue color, weighing 1-2 g. The thin skin is covered with a dense layer of natural wax, which protects the berries from external adverse factors.
- The pulp is dense, has 1 to 4 seeds. The color is dark, but the color of the juice obtained from it is poorly expressed.
- The average sugar content is 22%. This figure may vary depending on the weather and ripening period. The more sunny days and the longer the bunch was on the branch, the higher the sugar content. But in any case, the berries have a sour taste, especially the skin.
- Medium-sized dark green leaves are rounded and divided into 5 lobes.
The growth and development of the plant is average, but it is strong and high-yielding. The ripening time depends on the type of drink, the raw material for which will be berries. For table wine, fruits are harvested at the age of 153 days, and for dessert wine they are kept on branches for 165 days.
Grapes are propagated by seedlings and cuttings. They both adapt well and begin to grow quickly. The ideal soil option is considered to be clay with the addition of a small amount of sand, as in the homeland of this grape variety.
The composition of the soil affects the palatability of the berries. Sandy soil softens their taste, while limestone makes it richer. This feature is used by winemakers
The plant is often affected by powdery mildew, so preventive spraying should be carried out. Another enemy is mold. It is not difficult to reduce the risk of its occurrence: you need to ensure free air circulation. In order for the bush to be ventilated, it must be tied up and cut off in time.
The grape bush of this variety is unpretentious. It adapts to almost any weather conditions and takes root on all types of soil.