Riesling grape is a technical variety of late ripening that was first discovered along the banks of the Rhine. This variety is widely distributed in various viticulture countries, including Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Romania, Switzerland, USA, and Argentina. Riesling is characterized by high growth vigor and good shoot ripening. Bunches are cylindrical or cylindro-conical in shape, medium-sized, with dense or loose structure. Berries are round, greenish-yellow with brown dots, with a thin but strong skin and juicy flesh possessing a harmonious taste and characteristic aroma. Optimal sugar content in berries is about 17-18%, while acidity ranges from 0.9-1.1%, which allows the production of white wines with a unique mineral taste and expressive bouquet.
The Riesling variety is characterized by medium yield, and striving to increase it can negatively affect fruit quality. The grape has high winter hardiness and, due to late budburst, is less susceptible to damage from spring frosts. However, the variety is sensitive to certain diseases, such as oidium, gray rot of berries, and bacterial cancer, and is also susceptible to phylloxera and grape berry moth. At the same time, it shows lesser resistance to mildew compared to other varieties.
There are also hybrid forms of Riesling, for example, Magarach Riesling, bred using generative hybridization. This variety is intended for the production of ecologically pure dietary juices, white table wines, and sparkling wine materials. It is characterized by vigorous bushes, stable yield of 130-150 c/ha, bisexual flowers, medium bunches and berries with increased sugar content of 23-25% and acidity of 9-11 g/l. The hybrid shows increased resistance to fungal diseases and phylloxera, which makes it promising for viticulture.
