Pinot Noir grapes: description and features of the variety, history and agricultural technology

The Pinot Noir grape variety is known all over the world. His predecessors are mentioned from the 4th century in various documents. Wines from this variety are called Burgundy. They are mentioned in well-known literary works, for example, in the novel The Three Musketeers, authored by Alexandre Dumas. Today, these wines are still highly valued for their variety of flavors.

Origin story

Pinot Noir is native to the province of Burgundy in France. DNA examinations were carried out, as a result of which it turned out that the parents of this grape are the Traminer variety and a clone of Pinot Meunier.

Over time, Pinot Noir gained such popularity that it began to be grown in other countries on various continents. Because of this, new names began to appear. Despite the similarity, all samples grown in other countries were very different from the original in smell. This is due to differences in soils and the sum of temperatures.

"Pinot Noir" is translated from French as a black cone, which is associated with the color and shape of the berries.

Description and characteristics of the variety

Pinot Noir is very versatile. All of its clones have common features, but the best alcoholic products are those made from the classic version.

External signs

Pinot Noir is distinguished by its leaves and clusters. The leaves look like this:

1. Medium.
2. Round shape.
3. Wrinkles and small bubbles on the leaf plate.
4. The presence of 3 or 5 blades, of which the central one is the largest.
5. Deep or shallow side cutouts.
6. Top cutouts shallow open or deep.
7. No bottom cutouts, may be open.
8. The end teeth are in the form of triangles with a rounded corner at the top, their sides are convex.
9. The teeth along the edges are sharp and convex.
10. Weak omission.
11. The plate is cobweb-bristle.
12. In autumn, green turns to yellow with bright red spots.

Clusters reach a length of 7-12 centimeters and a width of 5-8 centimeters, they are cylindrical and cylindrical with lobes in shape. The comb is lignified, very dense, reaches 4 centimeters in length. One bunch, on average, weighs 66-120 grams.

Vine growers give the following description of the fruit:

1. 14-16 millimeters in diameter.
2. Average weight - 13 grams.
3. Circle shape, sometimes close to oval, but often deformed.
4. Dark blue close to black.
5. The skin is thin but firm.
6. The pulp is juicy.
7. Colorless juice.
8. Inside 2-3 seeds.
9. The fruits are covered with a bluish bloom.

Variety features

The following varietal features are distinguished:

1. Upright shoots.
2. Saplings are undersized, bushes are medium.
3. The vegetation period is 140-150 days, subject to the conditions of the temperature regime (the sum of temperatures is 2800 ° С).
4. Fruits ripen from the end of September.
5. Bisexual flowers.
6. Low yield - 50-60 centners per hectare. The maximum yield is 103 centners per hectare.
7. Proportion of fruitful shoots - 60-90%.
8. High frost resistance - up to -30 °C.
9. Low resistance to spring frosts - up to -2-3 °C.
10. Poor efficiency of replacement kidneys.
11. Replacement buds damaged by frost are recovering for the next season.
12. Berries contain 19-25% sugar, acidity is 7-9 grams per liter.
13. Load rate - 1-2 bunches per branch.

This grape variety, depending on certain factors, may have mutations leading to the appearance of clones and differences in shape, as well as the possibility of fruit peas.

Features of agricultural technology

Pinot Noir should be planted on gentle slopes, avoiding plains and lowlands. Grapes need dry, calcareous soils.

It is recommended to plant bushes at a distance of 0.8 meters from each other, keeping 1 meter between rows. The trellis should be 1-1.5 meters high.

The flavors of grapes and future wine depend on the temperature. The best option is a slight coolness, with strong heat the berries ripen quickly, but there are no fruity notes.

The quality of fruits is determined by the load. To the detriment of the harvest, it is necessary to leave no more than 4 bunches on a branch, otherwise the taste characteristics will deteriorate greatly.

Recommended 7-hole pruning and infrequent watering.

Diseases and pests

Pinot Noir is resistant to oidium, mildew and botrytis, but poorly resistant to phylloxera, but grafting to resistant grapes will increase this. When affected by this disease, the plant dies after 5-6 years.

Prophylaxis is common - by cutting the greenery, which increases the ventilation of the bush.

Weakly susceptible to pests.

Pinot Noir grapes are used to make high quality wines and champagnes. It is rarely mixed with other varieties, as it itself opens in different ways, making it possible to experience different flavor notes.

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