Popular Russian grape variety "Krasnostop"

Krasnostop is a technical grape variety common in the Rostov region and Krasnodar region.

The berries of Krasnostop Zolotovsky have a deep, dark blue color and are distinguished by high sugar content, which makes it possible to obtain ruby-red wine from them, with purple and violet highlights.

History of the origin of Krasnostop grapes

There are several theories about the origin of the Krasnostop Zolotovsky grape variety. The first is associated with the Don Cossacks and the European variety Cabernet Sauvignon. Her followers claim that the first seedlings appeared on the Don in 1812. The Cossacks liked it so much that they did not miss the opportunity to bring several cuttings to their homeland.

The Don Cossacks called the vine “foot”, and the Krasnostop variety has a red comb, hence the name. The academic reference book “Ampelography of the USSR” for 1954 mentions the presence of grapes in the nearby areas of the village of Starozolotovskaya. Hence the second part of the variety’s name.

The second theory of the origin of grapes is associated with the Cossacks and the Caucasus. Her followers are confident that the variety has Dagestan roots and was introduced in the 8th century. from the territories of modern Dagestan. The author of the theory is the famous Russian winegrower A.I. Potapenko. The scientist conducted a series of studies and found that Don viticulture has not a three-hundred-year, but a thousand-year history and dates back to the times of Khazaria.

Potapenko describes the external characteristics of the Don varieties and draws attention to their relationship with Caucasian cultures. For example, the Dagestan variety Gimra and the Don variety Krasnostop have practically no differences. The leaf blade of both plants is net-wrinkled, leaves with a glossy sheen. Large leaves with sharp teeth contrast with small leaves with blunt teeth. The berries are dark blue, almost black, round in shape. Sugar content is high. The differences concern the flowers: in Gimra they are female, in Krasnostop they are bisexual.

Followers of the third theory consider Krasnostop an autochthonous variety. In 2013, Swiss ampelographer Jose Vuaimo studied three Don varieties - Krasnostopa Zolotovsky, Sibirkovy, Tsimlyansky Black. The scientist compared their DNA with a database of profiles of more than 2,000 world varieties and found no matches. Based on this, Vuaimo came to the conclusion that the Don varieties are indigenous.

Characteristics of the variety

Krasnostop Zolotovsky is a technical variety of medium ripening period. Included in the ecological-geographical group of varieties of the Black Sea basin. The culture is zoned in the Rostov region and the Krasnodar region (Anapa). The ripening period from the moment of bud break is 136 days, provided that the average temperature is +25°C.

The bushes are characterized by moderate growth vigor. The vine ripens completely. The leaves are small or medium-sized, soft, round, flat or funnel-shaped, five-three-lobed. The middle lobe is wide and blunt. The surface of the leaf blade is glossy, finely reticulated and wrinkled. The back side of the leaf is covered with a thick cobweb-like fluff with small bristles. The petiole and central veins are wine-red.

The upper notches are medium or deep, closed, with ovoid or oval openings. The lower notches are weak, angular, open, less often closed with gaps.

The teeth at the edges are small, triangular-saw-shaped and dome-shaped. The flowers are bisexual. The clusters are medium-sized, conical, 8-15 cm long. The largest ones have small lobes at the base, medium-dense or loose.

The berries are round, small and slightly oval, weighing 0.8-1.2 g. The color is dark blue, with a blue waxy coating. The thickness of the skin is medium, the flesh is juicy.

Sugar content of berries is 25-27%. The acidity is high - 4.9-9.0 g/l, but decreases as the berries ripen. Harvesting is often delayed precisely for this reason - they wait until the berries are completely ripe or overripe. These grapes are used to produce sweet red wines with a cherry aroma and material for blending red sparkling wines. When harvested early, red table wines with a harmonious taste are obtained.

Zoning

The main plantings of Krasnostop are located in the Konstantinovsky district, Razdorsky district of the Rostov region. The vineyard area is small. Some bushes are scattered in a heterogeneous mixture with other varieties. Krasnostop does not grow outside the Rostov region and Krasnodar region.

Sustainability

Krasnostop is characterized by average resistance to frost, but when it freezes, it quickly recovers in the spring. The uniqueness of the variety is its ability to self-renew.

The plant is drought-resistant, but during prolonged periods of lack of natural moisture it needs additional watering and sprinkling.

Resistance to oidium and mildew is above average, but if the rules of care are violated, the protective powers of the grapes are reduced.

Interesting. Winegrowers celebrate the fungus Botrytis Cinarea and call it the “noble fungus.”Unlike pathogenic ones, it does not reduce productivity and does not cause harm. Experts believe that it has a positive effect on the taste of wine, similar to cheese.

Flowering and ripening period

In the steppe vineyards of the Lower Don region, the buds bloom at the end of April, flowering occurs at the end of the first ten days of June, the berries ripen until August 10. Full maturity occurs on September 13-15.

Productivity

The productivity of Krasnostop is average, depending on the location of growth and soil moisture. On dry soil, loose, small brushes with underweight (50-60 g each) are formed. On wet soils the clusters are heavy, large, weighing 100-150 g, the yield is high. On average, 60-80 centners are collected from 1 hectare.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages of the variety:

• high sugar content;
• possibility of obtaining semi-dessert and table wines;
• ability for self-renewal;
• resistance to mildew and oidium;
• high yield.

Flaws:

• the dependence of yield and taste on the place of growth and soil moisture;
• decreased immunity due to improper care.

Wine from the Krasnostop Zolotovsky variety

Grapes grow on their own roots. It's not vaccinate on American rootstock to protect against phylloxera, which is why the variety is considered authentic. Bushes grow using traditional agricultural technology - the vine is buried for the winter to protect it from frost.

The grapes are used to produce semi-dessert sweet and semi-sweet table wine. The drinks are colored a deep ruby ​​red with purple highlights. The texture is transparent, oily with a luxurious shine. The aroma is moderate, with notes of ink, cherry, blackberry, prune, licorice, vanilla, menthol.

The taste is full-bodied, tannic, moderately fresh with notes of leather, cherry, mulberry, tobacco, rye bread crust, vanilla and light smokedness. The aftertaste is long, with blackberry and blackcurrant tones. The wine is served with beef steaks, rack of lamb, hard and soft cheeses.

Dry red wine is ruby ​​in color with purple highlights. The texture is transparent, oily, with shine. The aroma is intense with notes of blackberry, currant jam, plum, clove and a light creamy finish. The taste is full-bodied, tannic, moderately fresh with notes of dried cherries, prunes, mulberries and spices. The aftertaste is long with blackberry and blackcurrant tones. The drink is served with prosciutto, beef steaks with black pepper, and rack of lamb with prunes.

The alcohol content in wines is 14.5% vol. Serving temperature - 17-18°C.

Reference. In November 2013, wine from the Krasnostop Zolotovsky variety was presented at the World Wine Symposium on Lake Como, Italy. World experts appreciated the taste of the drink presented by Jose Vuaimo.

Wines from the Krasnostop variety have received high marks from international wine critics: Stephen Spurrier, Robert Joseph, Oz Clark.

Planting seedlings

Before planting grapes, it is important to choose a location. The site must be located on the southern or eastern side, the groundwater table must be low, and the sunshine must be comprehensive.

Two weeks before planting, the soil is dug up and fertilized with manure, compost and superphosphate. This rule applies to nutrient-poor areas. Fertile black soil does not need additional fertilizer.

Experienced winegrowers recommend planting seedlings in the fall. They are purchased from specialized nurseries and taken from existing bushes.

Rules for preparing cuttings:

1. Cuttings are harvested after leaf fall before the first frost.
2. The vine should have an even color, crackle when bent, and the core should be dense.
3. Cuttings are taken from branches of the current year, with 4-6 developed buds, 50 cm long, 5-7 mm in diameter.

The cuttings are stored in damp sawdust or plastic bottles in the refrigerator at a temperature of 0...+4°C. They are checked once a month. If mold appears, wash it in a dark solution of potassium permanganate.

In the spring, the cuttings are checked for viability - a cut is made at the ends. If moisture appears, it means they are ready for planting; if not, they are dry. If liquid oozes, the cuttings have rotted. The cut should be light green, without dark spots.

Shallow furrows are made on each viable cutting and immersed in clean water at room temperature and changed 3-4 times within 24 hours. Then the cuttings are placed in a jar of water and wait for roots to appear.

Holes of 80x80 cm are formed on the site, crushed stone or broken brick is placed on the bottom. Fertile soil mixed with 1 kg of humus, 200 g of superphosphate, 1 liter of wood ash is poured on top and watered with settled water.

A pipe for irrigation is dug in the center of the hole. Then add a layer of clean soil without fertilizers and place the cutting. The roots are straightened, the hole is filled to the brim with fertile soil and watered. A distance of 1–1.2 m is maintained between seedlings. The row spacing is 1.5–2 m, the gap between the vine and the fence is 0.5 m.

Nuances of care

Krasnostop grape variety needs moderate watering at the beginning of growth and development, and abundant watering during dry periods. The plant responds gratefully to sprinkling.

After each watering, the earthen crust is loosened to ensure the flow of oxygen to the root system.

In the spring, nitrogen is added to increase the sugar content of the berries if necessary (chicken manure solution 1:20).

Two weeks before flowering, the bushes are irrigated with a solution of sodium humate (4 g per 10 liters of water). Two weeks after flowering - with a solution: 4 g of sodium humate, 5 g of boric acid per 10 liters of water.

Bush pruning performed in the spring: to form a strong vine, increase frost resistance and yield. Pruning in the first year of life stimulates rapid growth of the vine. The procedure is carried out before the start of sap flow.

In autumn, the ripened lower vine is cut off by a branch, the upper one by 5-10 buds. In spring, bushes are inspected and dry and damaged branches are removed.

Bushes are covered for the winter trench method. This helps protect the roots from freezing. The depth of the trench is 30 cm. The walls are reinforced with boards. The branches are tied with twine and placed in a recess, 50 cm of earth is poured on top and cover polyethylene. The ends are reinforced with bricks.

Disease and pest control

To prevent mildew and oidium, preventive treatment is carried out with Ridomil, Bordeaux mixture, and colloidal sulfur. For treatment, a sulfur solution is used - 100 g per 10 liters of water. Treatment is carried out in the evening or in cloudy weather 3-5 times with an interval of 10 days.

Grape bushes are most often affected by cluster budworm caterpillars. To destroy them, insecticides are used: “Fury”, “Talstar”, “Enzhio 247”, and biological products “Fitoverm”, “Lepidocid”, “Bitoxibacillin”.

To destroy ticks, insecticides are used: “Fufanon”, “Neoron”, “Aktellik”.

Harvest and storage

Harvesting begins in the first ten days of August and ends in mid-September, depending on the purpose of the berries.

Technical grade grapes are not stored, but are immediately sent for processing.

Conclusion

Krasnostop Zolotovsky grapes are a technical authentic variety used for the production of semi-dessert and dry red wines with cherry, blackcurrant, blackberry flavors and aroma. The culture has an average level of winter hardiness and requires shelter for the winter.

If the rules of agricultural technology are followed, it shows resistance to mildew and oidium; in unfavorable conditions it requires preventive treatment with Ridomil and solutions of sulfur and colloidal sulfur.