Early Purple is a universal grape variety developed by Russian breeders, characterized by high frost resistance down to -25...-27°C and resistance to a range of diseases, including mildew and berry grey rot. Bushes are medium-sized, reaching a height of 2-2.5 m, with well-ripening canes. Leaves are of medium and large size, three-lobed with a pitted surface, having a light green color with rare hispid hairing underneath. Flowers are bisexual, which ensures the self-pollinating nature of the variety. Bunches are conical, medium-sized, loose, weighing from 85 to 156 g, with a long green peduncle. Berries are round, purple-blue with a bluish-grey waxy bloom, dense skin, and juicy flesh with an original muscat aroma and pleasant taste. Each berry contains 2-3 seeds, and the juice is colorless and constitutes 84% of the fruit mass. The variety is distinguished by its early ripening period – berries begin to ripen by the end of July, however, to achieve the best taste qualities, harvesting is recommended in the first decade of September for fresh consumption and in the third decade of September for winemaking. The vegetative period is about 134 days at a sum of active temperatures of 2651°C. Early Purple grows well in both warm regions and the middle belt and north, where it requires winter cover. It is undemanding to soils, capable of developing even on heavy and slightly saline soils, and can be cultivated both on plains and on slopes of various directions. High yield of the variety is preserved even in non-irrigated conditions, while the percentage of fruiting shoots reaches 78%, and the average number of bunches per shoot is 1.4-1.8. Due to the dense skin and resistance to fungal diseases, berries maintain their market appearance well after harvesting. Must sugar content varies from 16 to 22 g/100 ml, and low acidity (about 3.8 g/l) and pronounced muscat aroma make this grape ideal for producing high-quality aromatic juice and dessert wines. The variety is distinguished by its high ability to regenerate fruiting shoots and is suitable for various training systems, including cordon without a trunk and two-armed cordons.
