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Vitis vinifera Rhea

Vitis vinifera Rhea
Common Grape Vine, European Grape, Wine Grape

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Variety of Slovak origin, vigorous and productive, highly appreciated for its seedless grapes and beautiful clusters with pink-coloured berries. Sweet and low in acidity, it develops a harmonious taste. Semi-early, the harvest extends over the month of September, even starting from late August in the south. The firm and crunchy berries keep well and withstand handling. Resistant to drought, it grows in ordinary to poor soils, well-drained, in full sun.
Flavour
Sugary
Height at maturity
4.50 m
Spread at maturity
2 m
Exposure
Sun
Self-fertilising
Best planting time October to November
Recommended planting time January to March, October to December
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Flowering time May to June
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Harvest time September
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Description

The Table Grape Vine or Vitis vinifera Rhea is a mid-early variety. The harvest takes place in September and can start earlier in the south. It produces large clusters, cylindrical to conical in shape, moderately tight, with a long and strong stem, weighing between 400 and 800 grams. They are composed of medium-sized grapes, oval in shape, with a uniform pink colour. The grape is fleshy and juicy, the flesh is sweet, slightly acidic (5 to 6 g/l), flavourful, harmonious and seedless. This variety is resistant to fungal diseases and frost, down to -21°C.

The wine grape, in Latin Vitis vinifera, belongs to the Vitaceae family, just like the Virginia creeper. It has been cultivated for thousands of years in North Africa, the Middle East, the Caucasus, and Europe. Between 1000 and 500 BC, it was introduced by the Romans to Italy, Sicily, Spain, Portugal, and the south of France. During this ancient period, wines were diluted with water and flavoured with herbs and spices. It is from the Middle Ages that we find wine as we know it today. In the 17th century, winemaking shifted towards the pursuit of higher-quality wines, but at the end of the 19th century, phylloxera destroyed a large part of the French vineyards, and thus in the 20th century, the science of wine emerged: enology. This species is grown for its fruit in clusters called grapes, which can be consumed fresh as table grapes, fermented into wine, or dried as raisins.

The 'Rhea' variety was obtained by Dorota Pospíšilová in Slovakia. It comes from the crossbreeding of Chaouch Rozoyi x Nedeltcheff Magvatlana. It forms a plant with long, woody, and climbing branches, called canes when they are mature and lignified, reaching up to 4 metres (13 feet) in spread, or even more when trained. The young branches that bear leaves, fruit, and tendrils that allow the vine to wrap around a support are called shoots. Its root system can reach a depth of up to 5 metres (16 feet) in the soil, ensuring good drought resistance for the vine. Very aesthetic, the branches are supported by a twisted trunk, with bark that peels off in strips as it ages. With a remarkable longevity, the vine can live for several centuries. Its deciduous foliage consists of large leaves measuring 8 to 16 cm (3 to 6in) in diameter, alternate, with 5 or 7 lobes, and toothed edges, attached to the branches by a long petiole. They change from a tender green colour at budburst to a medium green during the season, and turn golden yellow in autumn. The flowering, very discreet, occurs in May-June. Opposite the leaves, it appears as a cluster measuring 10 to 12 cm (4 to 5in) long, composed of small insignificant flowers, yellowish-green in color, with 5 prominent stamens. As a self-fertile variety, the hermaphroditic flowers self-pollinate. To form the cluster, the fleshy, round berries are attached to the stem by small pedicels. Floral buds freeze at -2°C, but the relatively late flowering of this variety is not easily affected by spring frosts. This hardy plant can be grown anywhere in Europe, in a sunny and warm location, in well-drained, deep soil, even poor, dry, and chalky soil.

The 'Rhea' table grape vine is a productive and vigorous variety, with quick fruiting, around 2 to 3 years, becoming optimal after 7 to 8 years. However, it is advisable to prune it sparingly. To achieve beautiful fruit colouration, light leaf removal can be practiced. The harvest, uniform and abundant, takes place between late August and late September, depending on the region and climate. It is important to only pick the fruit when it is fully ripe, as it does not ripen further once picked, and to gently pick the cluster with its stem, using secateurs. One vine can produce a quantity of 20 to 30 kg per year, depending on vine management. Grapes can only be stored for a few days in a cool place or in the refrigerator. 

Seedless, firm, juicy, and sweet, this table grape is delicious when eaten raw. It is also an ideal fruit for making jams, jellies, and fruit juice; for making clafoutis, cakes, custards, or loaves; for preparing salads with other fruits; or even for accompanying savory dishes based on poultry (turkey, chicken, quail, duck, etc.). It pairs wonderfully with cheese, endives, walnuts, cured ham, etc. Rich in carbohydrates (glucose and fructose) from 16 to 18 g per 100 g, grapes are a calorie-dense fruit (approx. 80 Cal/100 g). Its content of vitamins B (B2, B6) and C, phenolic antioxidants, and dietary fibres, as well as manganese, potassium, calcium, magnesium, with a significant iron content, make grapes a health asset. It is a healthy, natural, and flavourful fruit.

In addition to its fruit-bearing abilities, the 'Rhea' table grape vine can showcase its ornamental qualities when trained on a pergola, arbor, or wall. To offer a tasting of table grapes from August to October, it can be interesting to associate it with other earlier varieties, such as : 'Golden Chasselas', 'Pink Chasselas', 'King of Early', 'Centennial Seedless', 'Perlette', 'Madeleine Royal', or later ones:  'Alphonse Lavallée', 'Centennial Seedless', 'Exalta', 'Muscat d'Alexandrie', 'Muscat de Hambourg', 'Sultanica Bianca'. But in any case, among a wide range of vine varieties, it is easy to find the one that best suits your desires.

For a more urban use, it is entirely possible to grow a grapevine in a pot on a balcony or terrace, trained in a warm and well-pruned situation. In this configuration, the vine will be highly ornamental.

Plant habit

Height at maturity 4.50 m
Spread at maturity 2 m
Growth rate normal

Fruit

Fruit colour pink
Fruit diameter 2 cm
Flavour Sugary
Use Table, Jam, Patisserie, Cooking
Harvest time September

Flowering

Flower colour green
Flowering time May to June
Inflorescence Cluster
Bee-friendly Attracts pollinators

Foliage

Foliage persistence Deciduous
Foliage colour medium green

Botanical data

Genus

Vitis

Species

vinifera

Cultivar

Rhea

Family

Vitaceae

Other common names

Common Grape Vine, European Grape, Wine Grape

Origin

Cultivar or hybrid

Product reference19125

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Planting and care

Plant the 'Rhea' vine in autumn, in a deep, well-drained, even rocky, arid, poor and limestone soil, in a well-exposed, sheltered from strong winds. Incorporate 3 or 4 handfuls of fertiliser for fruit trees and 2 kg of decomposted manure for each vine into the planting soil. The roots should not be in contact with the manure. After planting, prune above 2 large buds to obtain the development of two branches. Keep the most vigorous shoot and tie it to a stake. This will be followed by training pruning, in a vertical cordon, which will be pruned firther the following season

The vine does not require regular fertiliser application for good yield, on the contrary. Enrich the soil with potash slag, crushed horn or iron chelate, only every 2-3 years.

The 'Rhea' vine is naturally resistant to fungal diseases, particularly Downy mildew. It does not require regular treatments. The most commonly encountered vine pests are grape berry moths (Cochylis) and European grapevine moth (Eudemis), which should be treated with an insecticidal spray during the growing season, twice with a two-week interval. There is also Downy mildew (oil spots on the leaf, underside with a white down) and Grey rot Botrytis (mould on the grapes in humid weather). For these two fungal diseases, use Bordeaux mixture at the first symptoms. Treat alternatively with sulfur against Powdery mildew (white-grey felting on the top of the leaves), in good weather, not too hot.

Since the devastation caused by phylloxera at the end of the 19th century, the vine must be grafted onto different rootstocks resistant to this disease and adapted to different types of soil. These rootstocks are derived from American varieties naturally armed against this formidable parasite itself of American origin.

Planting period

Best planting time October to November
Recommended planting time January to March, October to December

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow, Rockery
Type of use Climbing, Orchard
Hardiness Hardy down to -23°C (USDA zone 6a) Show map
Ease of cultivation Amateur
Exposure Sun
Soil pH Neutral, Calcareous
Soil type Chalky (poor, alkaline and well-drained), Clayey-chalky (heavy and alkaline), Silty-loamy (rich and light), ordinary, well-drained, well-prepared

Care

Pruning instructions The vine must be pruned every year because the grapes appear on the lower parts of the current year's branches. The stems need to be renewed every year. It is necessary to intervene at the time of planting, and then several times a year in winter and summer. To limit diseases, avoid large pruning wounds. Training pruning: The simplest way is to keep a fixed vertical main stem on which spaced secondary branches will be inserted every 25 to 30 cm (10 to 12in). To obtain a two-arm cordon, select two opposite buds that you will train horizontally as cordons. Fruiting pruning: This is done every year at the end of winter, in February-March before the vegetation resumes, but after the heavy frosts. It is necessary to distinguish the branches that fruited the previous year from what is called the replacement canes located just below. Remove the branches that have already fruited the previous year. Eliminate weak, sterile, poorly placed, or too close to the ground branches. Shorten the replacement canes above the 3rd or 4th bud, depending on the variety. In June, remove excess young shoots.
Pruning Pruning recommended twice a year
Pruning time February to March, June
Soil moisture Tolerant
Disease resistance Good
Overwinter Can be left in the ground

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