The Augusta grape variety is a technical variety with an early ripening period, reaching technical maturity of berries by late August - early September. Bushes of this variety are powerful, with high growth vigor and high rooting ability of cuttings. Bunches are conical in shape, small in size, weighing 110-120 grams, medium density and loose. Berries are small, round, dark blue, with meaty and juicy pulp, while the juice is not colored. The weight of one berry is about 1.3 grams, and the taste is harmonious with a very weak muscat aroma. Flowers are bisexual, which contributes to good fruiting, with a coefficient of approximately 1.6 bunches per shoot.
Berry sugar content varies from 23 to 27%, acidity is within 6-9 g/l, which ensures a balanced taste and high quality of raw material for winemaking. The variety is characterized by high yield — 100-110 centners per hectare with a planting scheme of 3x1.5 meters. Juice yield reaches about 70%, and sugar accumulation can reach 30 Brix. Augusta is primarily used for the production of table and dessert wines, which receive high ratings from tasting experts.
The variety is characterized by good winter hardiness, withstanding temperatures down to -24-25°C, which allows growing it in non-covered culture, although partial winter coverage is recommended. Augusta has resistance to major fungal diseases: downy mildew (2.5 points), powdery mildew (1.5 points with 1-2 preventive sprays) and phylloxera (3.5 points). These characteristics make the variety reliable and promising for viticulturists seeking to obtain a quality harvest for winemaking purposes.
