Rkatsiteli grapes: what you need to know about it, description of the variety, reviews

History of selection and region of breeding

Rkatsiteli is a unique variety with a thousand-year history. It was created and zoned on the territory of Kakheti in Georgia, the exact time, name of the breeder and the specimens crossed are unknown. Thanks to favorable conditions in southern countries and in countries with a temperate climate, where the air temperature in winter does not exceed -25°C, Rkatsiteli has been successfully grown for hundreds of years.

Did you know? More than 500 grape varieties are grown in Georgia, but winemakers distinguish no more than 20, among which Rkatsiteli is considered the best white grape variety.

Characteristics of Rkatsiteli grapes

The uniqueness of the Rkatsiteli grape variety is, first of all, due to the taste of the fruit, which is highly valued by winemakers for the opportunity to obtain delicious wine from ordinary grape raw materials.

Description of berries

The Rkatsiteli grape berry has a small weight, compared to other common technical varieties, it varies from 2 to 3 g. The length of one berry can be from 12 to 18 mm, width - from 12 to 14 mm, the shape is often round, sometimes slightly elongated sides. The color of the skin of the berries is golden yellow; one side of the berry, illuminated by the sun, is covered with a bronze spot. In some cases, when exposed to direct sunlight, the berries acquire a pinkish tint; the inside is light, white-green, and sometimes yellowish.

The grapes are covered with a rather thin but dense skin, which protects the pulp from mechanical damage. The variety is distinguished by its juicy, fleshy pulp and has a unique, slightly tart taste that not everyone will like if the berries are consumed fresh. The aroma of the berries is unobtrusive, light, reminiscent of the smell of wildflowers with notes of citrus. Each berry contains 3 seeds.

Bunches of grapes

The clusters of Rkatsiteli grapes are small, weighing 150–180 g. The length of one bunch is on average 13–15 cm, width - 7–8 cm. The bunches have a cylindrical or cylindrical-conical shape with a long wing. The density is average; when grown in Georgia, this indicator may vary depending on the growing conditions and the region of cultivation - from loose to medium density.

Did you know? About 80 thousand km are planted with grapes on the planet

²
, while 70% of the harvest is processed into wine, 27% is consumed fresh, and dried fruits are prepared from 3%.

Ripening time

Compared to other varieties, Rkatsiteli buds bloom late. It takes from 150 to 160 days from bud break to the onset of harvest ripeness of the berries, so the variety is classified as a medium-ripening variety. The harvest can be harvested in the first half of October, but take into account the taste and appearance of the bunches; sometimes the berry picking period is postponed to the middle or end of the month. If the total number of active temperatures during the growing period of the bush was less than 3000°C, the specified time of 160 days will not be enough to achieve full maturity.

Features of the vine

The young shoot has a pubescent crown and grows vertically. Annual specimens are dark brown with a slight red tint; the color is more intense at the nodes. The shoots are characterized by good ripening, the average is 90%. Mature shoots acquire a red-yellow hue over time. The bush is vigorous, so the grape shoots grow quite long and require support already in the first year of cultivation.

Important! The soil where the variety will be planted must be moisture-absorbing and have good drainage to prevent stagnation of water, which harms the bush as much as lack of moisture.

Productivity

The Rkatsiteli variety has good yield, but this indicator is very unstable. Under favorable growing conditions, the absence of diseases and compliance with agricultural technology, the amount of harvest from 1 hectare can be more than 150 centners. Low yield of a variety can occur under unfavorable weather conditions, which provoke the development of diseases and cause mass destruction by pests; at this time, the number of fruitful shoots on the bushes is reduced to 20%, given that the maximum figure is 70%.

Variety resistance

Rkatsiteli has good frost resistance and can withstand frosts down to -25°C without additional shelter if grown in zoned areas. When grown in temperate climate zones, it requires shelter. Resistance to drought is very low; the bushes do not tolerate prolonged absence of rainfall, so they need additional artificial watering. The variety has average resistance to most common diseases and pests, which can worsen under the influence of unfavorable weather conditions and the use of improper cultivation techniques.

Important! To prepare a high-quality drink, the grape harvest must be harvested exclusively in mid-October.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Like any other variety, Rkatsiteli grapes have pros and cons, which every winegrower must analyze before starting to grow on a plantation.

• The advantages of the variety include:
• ease of cultivation and care;
• unique taste and aroma;
• high sugar content of berries, which makes it possible not to add additional sugar to the raw materials for wine production;
• suitability for processing to produce high quality wines that have a good return on investment and bring greater profits to winemakers;
• high frost resistance.

• Among the disadvantages of the variety are:
• unstable harvests;
• low resistance to drought;
• small berries and small clusters.

How to drink Rkatsiteli wine

Like any white wine, Rkatsiteli is cooled to 3-10 degrees before serving (dry ones should be cold, sweet ones can be “warmer”).

Rkatsiteli wine makes good gastronomic pairs with Georgian potato pancakes “labda”, light salads, grilled fish, vegetables, spiced rice, smoked eggplant.

Rkatsiteli wine goes even with khachapuri

Famous brands Rkatsiteli

Popular brands: Pheasant's Tears, Dr. Konstantin Frank, Orgo, Cricova Vin de Colectie Gratiesti, Chateau Mukhrani, Askaneli Brothers and others.

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Correct conditions for planting grapes

Its further development, the quality of fruiting and the amount of harvest depend on the conditions for planting the grapevine, so we will consider the timing and features of planting the Rkatsiteli variety.

How and when to plant grapes

It is recommended to plant Rkatsiteli grapes on sandy or loamy soil. If the planting region is southern, with hot and dry summers, then it is better to plant on the northern slopes so that the berries ripen evenly and do not burn out under the scorching rays of the sun. Planting a young grapevine should be done exclusively in the spring so that the bushes take root well and overwinter normally. The best time for planting is considered to be mid-to-late May, if there is no risk of seedlings freezing.

Find out more about how and when to plant grapes in the spring.

A cloudy day or evening is best for planting, so that the vine does not wither under the scorching rays and the bush quickly takes root. The bush of the Rkatsiteli variety is vigorous, so the planting scheme must be followed accordingly: a distance of at least 2 m is maintained between bushes, and 3 m between rows. The size of the hole for each seedling should be 1 m in diameter and the same in depth.

Planting technology

Before you start planting the vine, you need to prepare the planting hole. It is better to do this 2 weeks before the planned landing date. For planting, prepare a special soil mixture consisting of fertile soil (2 buckets), manure (2 buckets), wood ash (1 l), phosphate fertilizer (100 g). All components should be thoroughly mixed and half the mixture should be poured into the hole in a heap, in the central part of which the seedling will later be installed.

If possible, leave the hole with the contents for 2 days, then start planting. It is also recommended to prepare the seedling: a day before planting, the roots are immersed in clean water so that they are well saturated with moisture; you can also add any growth stimulator for grapes to the water, which will facilitate and speed up the rooting process.

Important! If the seedling is planted in moist soil after precipitation, the plant still needs to be watered, since abundant watering eliminates air voids between the roots and the soil, which will allow the plant to take root faster.

Let's consider the technology of planting a seedling in a prepared hole:

1. A layer of fertile soil is poured onto the heap of soil mixture, which will protect the root system of the grapes from damage under the influence of fertilizers.
2. A seedling is placed on the resulting hill so that the heel of the vine is buried 40 cm, while the upper eye of the vine should be located at a depth of 10 cm.
3. Next, the hole is filled with a fertile layer of soil, adding on top the remainder of the nutrient soil mixture prepared earlier. The hole should be filled so that the soil covers half the length of the seedling.
4. The soil around the seedling should be compacted and watered well (1 bucket of water), wait until the water is completely absorbed.
5. The final step is to fill the hole with soil to level the ground level. There is no need to compact the soil around the seedling.

Video: planting grape seedlings

Features of care

It is recommended to care for grapes especially actively during the growing season and be sure to prepare the plantings for the winter period.

Let's consider general recommendations for caring for grapes:

1. When the seedling reaches 1 m in height, it is tied to vertically installed stakes, and a mesh is stretched between them, along which the grapes will shoot lashes.
2. In order to deepen the roots of the grapes as much as possible and make the plant immune to even the most severe frosts, during the summer period the top layer of soil is carefully raked and the upper roots are cut off, so that the lower ones will grow more actively and deepen. It is better to carry out the procedure in the evening so that the damaged roots do not dry out during the day from the scorching rays of the sun.
3. Shoots on which flowers and ovaries do not appear should be cut to half their length. It will not be possible to get a harvest from them this year, but the plant will become thickened and the fertile shoots will receive less nutrients.
4. The top of the fruiting shoots on which the flowers appear should be pinched immediately on the first day the buds open and all the shoots should be removed - such procedures will stimulate the flow of nutrients to the bunches.
5. The vineyard should be watered 3–5 times throughout the summer (once every 2–3 weeks) with plenty of water (3–4 buckets for 1 bush). The last watering must be done in early October before frost, so that the roots of the grapes stock up on moisture for the winter.
6. Weeding and loosening the soil under the bushes must be done regularly so that the roots receive the necessary amount of oxygen. It is better to do this a few hours after watering, when all the water has been absorbed.
7. The spaces between the rows of the vineyards are mulched using straw or sawdust in a layer of 6–8 cm. This procedure allows you to retain moisture in the soil for a long time, the root system does not lack watering, in addition, weeds germinate much more slowly and weeding is not required as often.

Sheltering grapes for the winter

Preparations for winter are carried out after harvesting. When the grape shoots dry out, they should be carefully untied from the stakes and placed in trenches dug between the rows. The depth of the trenches should be 20–30 cm. The shoots laid in the trenches are sprinkled with a layer of soil, then with humus and again with soil (each layer must be at least 20 cm). Such a shelter allows you to protect the grapes from freezing.

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Use of Rkatsiteli grape fruits

Rkatsiteli grapes are used not only in winemaking, but also in cooking, since the variety is considered universal. Desserts, drinks, sauces, jams, and preserves are prepared based on the berries. The variety is popular for the production of strong alcoholic drinks, such as cognac. Most often, the variety is grown for wine production. It is used as the only ingredient or mixed with other varieties.

There are 2 technologies for preparing drinks based on Rkatsiteli:

1. European - the juice ferments without pomace, the resulting wine is light, sometimes contains notes of astringency, the aftertaste is pleasant.
2. Kakheti - processing of grapes occurs with ridges, skins and seeds, the fermentation process occurs with pomace. This drink turns out tart, rich, more aromatic and most beneficial for the human body if all stages and the preparation process are followed.

You might be interested to know whether grapes can cause allergies.

Thus, the Rkatsiteli grape variety is universal; it is used as a table and technical variety. If the climate allows, growing it in a home garden will not be difficult, provided that agricultural practices are followed according to the recommendations in the article.

Pests and diseases

The main pests that plague the Rkatsiteli grapes are spider mites and grape budworm.

A spider mite infestation can be detected by the appearance of yellow leaves, which then dry out and die. To combat ticks, acaricides are used - “Kleschevit”, “Fitoverm”, “Akarin”, “Tiovit Jet”. The drugs are diluted and used according to instructions.

To destroy leaf rollers, you will need insecticides - “Aliot”, “Decis”, “Inta-Vir”, “Fufanon-Nova”. Spraying is carried out before flowering and after.

The Rkatsiteli grapes will have to be saved from powdery mildew. The variety does not have strong immunity to this disease. To prevent infection, it is necessary to spray the bushes with one of the fungicides - Topaz, Tiovit Jet, Strobi. “Strobe”, “Ridomil Gold”, “Horus” are well suited for preventing downy mildew. The treatment is repeated 3 times a week. To prevent grapes from being exposed to gray rot, use “Fitosporin” or “Alirin”.

Regular inspection of young plants helps to avoid unnecessary treatments. As soon as the first signs of a problem appear on the Rkatsiteli grapes (see photo),

gardener intervention is required. Until this moment, you just need to follow the requirements of agricultural technology, and pests will not appear:

• clear bushes of parts of old bark;
• burn this bark outside the vineyard;
• carry out preventive spraying.

The garlic and onion infusion has proven itself to be excellent. It is prepared from 3-4 heads of garlic, 200 g of onion peel and 5 liters of water. Leave the mixture for 6 days, then spray the grapes.

The Rkatsiteli grape variety is used for making juices and wines. In one technology, only berries are used, in another they are processed together with combs. Such drinks are more tart. Winegrowers value the variety for its unpretentiousness and good yield, so if there is space on the plot, they must plant the famous variety.