In many countries, Cabernet grapes are considered one of the most popular technical varieties. It is mainly used in the wine industry. Thanks to their unpretentiousness, they are very much loved by gardeners. There are a lot of species, but the most famous are Fran, Cortis, Sauvignon. The last one is especially popular.
Origin and historical homeland
Cabernet Sauvignon is distinguished by berries with a specific nightshade smell. He appeared as a result of crossing two Western European: Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc. The grape variety, cultivated today around the world, began to spread from France (Bordeaux province). The date of his birth is considered the XVII century. Now it is grown in Argentina, Italy, Bulgaria, Japan, America and many other countries.
Places of growth
Cabernet Sauvignon grapes ripen at a later time, because it calmly tolerates frost and drought, as well as the invasion of various pests. It has high resistance to milla and phylloxera. The disadvantages include low productivity and shedding of ovaries. It is unpretentious, has the ability to adapt and grow in all corners of the planet. And, depending on the place of growth, it has its own unique taste and smell. For example, Cabernet French grapes are distinguished by a floral and coffee aroma, but the same variety that grows in California has a berry-pepper flavor. Note: the most favorable place for ripening without using a blend is California, not France, although Cabernet grapes appeared there.
Grade description
Shrubs have long light-nut shoots, covered with round leaves, and a white-green crown with dense pubescence. Bunches grow up to fifteen centimeters in length, and about nine in width, weighing up to 80 grams. Most of the weight of the bunch is grape juice - about 80%, pulp and peel - no more than 20%, and a very small percentage goes to the combs.
The number of fruitful shoots is approximately half of their total number. In order to get wine, you need to shorten the vine and load the plant with shoots. From the moment the buds have already blossomed, it takes about one hundred and fifty days when you can start harvesting. Usually this period begins in early autumn. For dessert wines, it is somewhat delayed.
Berries
Cabernet grape variety is distinguished by small berries - about fifteen centimeters. They have an oval shape, a blue skin and a fairly high density. The berries do not rot for a very long time, they can be on the tree for quite a long time. The number of seeds does not exceed three pieces. By weight characteristics, the weight of the berry is not more than 1 gram. The pulp of grapes is very juicy, has a transparent color.
Sugar is about 20%, and this number is not amenable to changes even in connection with exceeding the yield load index.
Growing Features
Soil and location should be chosen with special care, because Cabernet grapes are very sensitive to an uncomfortable surface. There are several generally recognized factors that you need to know when planting this grape. Keep in mind that this is a heat-loving variety. Despite the resistance of the grapes to cold, complete ripening occurs in the south, in mountainous terrain. But this does not mean that in other conditions it will not ripen, it will happen faster in the southern territories. Planting periods are standard - there is no difference from other varieties: mid-autumn and early spring. If during the cultivation a goal such as wine production is pursued, there is no need to weight the bushes with too long arrows of fruits. On the contrary, they should be shortened. The width between the rows is about three meters.
It is not difficult to grow this variety, because it practically does not rot even in rainy weather and is resistant to many diseases. In addition, she is completely not afraid of frost and tolerates winter well. The main thing is to ensure high-quality watering. In dry summers, when there is not enough moisture, the berries grow too small, and the density of clusters decreases. Low yield Cabernet Sauvignon - this is perhaps the only disadvantage of the variety.
A serious danger for him is represented by pests - a spider web and grape mite, a grapevine and its caterpillars. To combat them, use a soap solution, which is treated with a bush during the period of opening of the kidneys. During the summer, one percent sulfur is used several times for prophylactic purposes.
Harvested depending on weather conditions. Usually this is done in the second half of September - early October.
From the experience of professionals
Vine growers, who have been cultivating this variety for more than a year, have brought out some patterns and tricks for themselves, thanks to which almost all shoots bear fruit. A few clusters of grapes can be placed on substitute knots. Excellent adaptability to any terrain has been mentioned above. It is worth noting here that Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are not capricious on the new earth either. In conjunction with agronomic technology, this gives excellent results. Shortening the plant should be done in six eyes. At the lower level, although there are rare arrows, nevertheless there are several small clusters.
No matter how you want to use fresh Cabernet grapes, this is not crowned with success. Too dense and rough skin covered with fruits. Winemaking is practically the only branch of their use. But in it this grape is the standard for many competing varieties; in France, a variety of wines are based on it.
Wine "Cabernet Sauvignon"
Processed berries are transformed into a wonderful drink that has a noble tannic taste. Fruits give it astringency, because they have such a component as tannin. The taste of the berries themselves has a nightshade. As for the external characteristics of the wine, such a high density of the skin of the fruit and the late ripening of the variety make the color of the drink deep and saturated. Every year spent on a shelf in a wine cellar, Cabernet Sauvignon is gaining more and more value, and as a result - high cost. Over time, its taste becomes softer and resembles the taste of black currant.
This grape variety is used not only in the manufacture of wines, it also participates in the production of juices and champagne. Its fruits, filled with a special aroma, have no competitors. Wine "Cabernet Sauvignon" is served with meat and other dishes that have a pronounced taste, so as not to interrupt it.
Other grape varieties
Its fruits are also not suitable for food, therefore they grow this species for the purpose of making wine. Bred in Germany in 1982. Cabernet Cortis is a grape variety characterized by early ripening, the terms of which do not exceed 140 days. Fruits of a round form have a violet shade and are covered with a whitish bloom. The most widespread in Germany and Switzerland.
Cabernet Franc - the variety that is the founder of Cabernet Sauvignon, has a much lower yield, but is highly resistant to frost, so it is usually grown in climatic zones that differ in early cooling.
Less common varieties, but at the same time, beloved by many wine growers are Cabernet Karol, Jura, Michurinsky, Carbon. Each of them has its own special aroma, but all are united by high resistance to fungal infections and frosts.