Grape vine

Grape vine – Genus: Vitis. Subspecies: Vinifera.
Rench: vigne. English Vine.

Only the European grape (vitis vinifera) produces drinkable wines.
Wines from all over the world are made from European grapes.
There are only a few exceptions: hybrids, crosses between European and American grapes.

A Grape vine can turn over  100 years of age.
An old grape vine (over 50 years of age) gives a small amount of grapes.
The quality is however more concentrated.

A grape vine covers by nature an area of half a hectare.
The roots independently go deep into the ground.
Usually several meters, but in the soft limey soil of the Champagne sometimes even 20 meters.
The grape vine is very strong and can grow in dry places where other plants give up.
The grape vine also grows well on fertile soil, but the quality of the grapes is reduced.
Strong frost can do great damage and destroy the vineyard in a single blow.