The Common Grapevine

The vine is one of the perennial lianas. However, the longitudinal growth does not take place through the main axis of the shoot, but through lateral axes. The main axis runs out in each case in a shoot tendril. The lateral shoot, which forms in the axil of the tendril, then takes over the length growth.

The leaves are roundish to cordate and usually distinctly three- to five-lobed. The base of the leaf is heart-shaped, the lobes are coarsely toothed. The underside of the leaves is hairy from tomentose to white woolly, usually a tendril is opposite each leaf. The petiole has a length of four to ten centimeters.

Vine flowers grow in panicles and have a inconspicuous green-yellowish colour. The flowers have five teeth. The flower buds are initially closed. They open by the fact that the corn leaves, which are fused at the top, open at the base. This so-called cap then dries and falls off. The flower consists of five stamens surrounding the ovary. At the base of the ovary are five nectar glands.

Since the flower buds are similar to the developing grapes, the inflorescence that has not yet blossomed is also called the clusters. It seems to look like the small immature grapes themselves.

The fruits correspond to a juicy berry, which usually contains one to four seeds. The berries are surrounded by a layer of wax. When ripe, the berries, arranged as panicles, increase in weight and make the fruit stand drooping.

The grapevine is now widespread as a cultivated plant on every continent in the world, except Antarctica. In areas with a suitable climate, extensive wine-growing regions have developed. Of several species that once existed, only one survived in Europe after the Ice Age, namely the wild grapevine (Vitis vinifera ssp. sylvestris), which is also considered to be the original form of the European grape varieties. The grapevine species found in North America are used in Europe primarily as rootstocks. Their grapes are not really well suited for wine production due to their unusual taste.

The wild grapevine prefers warm, fresh to moderately dry soils that are less rich in lime. It finds optimal sites in riparian forests along rivers. It is found in south-eastern Central Europe, Asia Minor and North Africa. In Austria it is rarely spotted in the riparian forests of the Danube and in the March region. In Seewinkel the wild grapevine does not occur. The wild grapevines growing everywhere all originate from feral cultivated grapevines or their rootstocks.

Even though the vine is a deep rooter, the main root system is usually located at a depth of 20 to 50 centimeters. These lateral roots serve primarily to supply nutrients, but also water. Just below the surface are the dew roots, which are lateral roots that can absorb dew. The data on how deep the vine can root are between 15 and 20 meters. The pollination of the vine flowers is carried out by insects. The main flowering period of the vine begins in mid-May.

The grapevine is considered one of the oldest cultivated plants in the world and was probably already known and used by the Egyptians and Babylonians. In Austria, the first grape seed finds date back to the Bronze Age and come from the Traisen Valley, or from the village of Stillfried an der March. In addition, the Celts and Illyrians were already cultivating grapes around 700 B.C., as evidenced by finds from a mound grave from the Hallstatt period in Zagersdorf, Burgenland.

The first systematic viticulture in Austria took place from the first century BC by the Romans. Evidence of this can be found in the Danube region near Carnuntum, at Neusiedler See but also in southern Burgenland and southern Styria. The lifting of the ban on viticulture north of the Alps by the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius Probus, who even had the army systematically plant vineyards, brought about a great upswing.

After the collapse of the Roman Empire, however, viticulture came to a standstill again. Large parts of the wine-growing areas on the present territory of Austria were even destroyed during the time of the migration of peoples. Viticulture was not specifically promoted until the reign of Charlemagne. The greatest expansion of the wine-growing area was achieved in the 15th to the 16th century with a three times greater expansion than today.

Probably one of the greatest turning points in Austrian viticulture occurred in the second half of the 19th century. The import of American vines also brought phylloxera to Europe. Since the European grapevine is not resistant to this pest, the stocks were almost completely destroyed. Only the introduction of grafting (European wine varieties are grafted onto phylloxera-resistant American rootstocks) made viticulture in Europe possible again.

The most important use of the vine is the production of alcoholic beverages. For this purpose, the obtained grape juice is fermented and made into wine, sparkling wine, brandy, but also vinegar. For many centuries, wine was the most important drink of the people, because unlike water, it was germ-free. The danger of catching diseases from well water was very high. The consumption of non-alcoholic grape juice began only in modern times, because in the past there was no way to make these juices last longer.

Furthermore, there is also a variety of table grapes. They are characterised by finer skins, larger fruit and grapes with few or no seeds. Raisins are produced from table grapes by drying. Raisins are made from Sultana grapes, which have a particularly soft skin and are very sweet and seedless. Grape seeds are also used in the production of oil.

The wine is also used in medicine. Thus, the extract of red grape leaves is used for venous disorders and has an anti-inflammatory effect. Grape seeds and also the skins have an antioxidant effect. The range of products extends from teas and capsules to gels and ointments. Ingredients of wine are also used in cosmetics. It is not without reason that wine was also chosen as the medicinal plant of the year 2023 in Germany.