Thursday, February 25, 2010

Grape Sex


There are about 60 species of Vitis in the world (of which Vitis vinifera--the classic wine grapes--is but one). Many (all?) of these species have several or many different varieties within the species (Merlot and Riesling, for example, are two varieties of the Vitis vinifera species). Just in Italy alone there are more than 200 different vinifera varieties of grapes made into wine, so the likely number of grape varieties, amongst all grape species, worldwide, must be in the tens of thousands or maybe even millions.
All of these sixty grape species can be crossed with each other, to make hybrids. Nature continually makes hybrids in the wild, and for about 150 years humans have been doing it purposefully and scientifically.
Most grapes have 38 chromosomes, but some, including Muscadines, have 40 chromosomes. (Humans have 46 chromosomes, in 23 pairs.)

Grape breeding continues apace across the world, in a determined-but-by-its-nature-very-slow race to develop better varieties. The improved grapes will lead to less use of sprays, less use of tractor fuel, less use of bird netting, and, hopefully, good wines. All those "less uses" are Green with a capital G, so it is well worth the effort.
Monkeying with grape flowers (which are some of the smallest flowers) is a big deal and takes a very long time horizon, just to be able to properly judge the results. It would be helpful if we consumers keep an open mind towards wines made from new hybrid grapes. They may taste different to our palates, but do you remember the first time you tasted a good Malbec wine? It is different from the other common vinifera grapes, and yet if you're like me, you were able to happily make a place on your shelf for it . . .


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