Firsky Early is a Crimean grape variety belonging to the eco-geographical group of the Black Sea basin. It is characterized by vigorous bushes reaching a height of 2-2.5 meters with good wood ripening. The leaves are large, round or slightly elongated, deeply lobed, mostly five-lobed, with dense felt-like hair on the underside. The clusters are of medium size, cylindro-conical or cylindrical, dense and very dense, weighing about 100-164 grams. The berries are round, blue-black, covered with a thick waxy bloom, with a dense and tough skin. The flesh is juicy, transparent, with a rose aroma, colorless juice, simple and sweet taste. The variety differs in early maturity – the fruit ripens by the end of July, however, the optimal time for harvesting is the second half of September. Firsky Early has high yield and good frost resistance, which allows growing it not only in warm regions but also in the middle belt with winter cover. Shoot ripening is good, and berries maintain their market appearance after harvesting. The sugar content of the juice varies from 18 to 26 g/100 cm³, acidity – from 4 to 7 g/dm³, which makes the variety suitable for making red table and strong wines, including in mixtures with other varieties. Firsky Early has medium resistance to fungal diseases, including downy mildew, powdery mildew, and gray rot, but differs in increased resistance to berry rot. The variety is self-pollinating and unpretentious, which facilitates its cultivation. Despite medium susceptibility to some pests, such as the vine leafroller and grape aphid, it remains in demand due to the combination of high yield, good taste qualities, and adaptability to various climatic conditions.
