Vitis vinifera Dattier de Beyrouth - Grape vine

The 'Dattier de Beyrouth' vine is a vigorous variety. It produces fairly large clusters of grapes, 20 to 25 cm (8 to 10in) long, conical and quite loose. The berries, very big, are ellipsoid, with thick, amber-white skin. The flesh is sweet. Harvest takes place at the end of September. The 'Dattier de Beyrouth' vine is sensitive to Mildew. It adapts better in warm regions.

The wine grape vine (Vitis vinifera) grew wild more than 5000 years ago. Its introduction in France for cultivation was done by the Romans. Many hybrids have been created to vary colours, flavours and uses. The 'Dattier de Beyrouth' vine is a natural variety, multiplied in the region of Cavaillon, in the Vaucluse. It is present in many countries with a warm climate. It has served as a parent for new varieties such as the 'Danuta' grape variety.

A vigorous climbing shrub, the 'Dattier de Beyrouth' vine reaches up to 5 m (16ft). Its final shape will depend on the pruning practiced. It doesn't care about the nature of the soil, being not very demanding, the vine even prefers a dry and stony soil. Its semi-erect to horizontal habit requires trellising on wire. Long pruning is recommended. It likes sunny situations.

Its finely divided foliage, deep green in summer, turns into the most beautiful gold in autumn. Its flowering in clusters occurs at the end of May, offering very small white-pink flowers. Its table grapes, in fairly large clusters, ripen at the end of September, depending on the regions. Grapes are consumed as table fruit, fresh, but also in jam, jelly, fruit juice, pastry, and of course, after vinification, as wine.