Vitis (grapevine) is a genus of about 80 species of twining plants in the familyVitaceae. The genus consists of species predominantly from the Northern Hemisphere. It is economically important as the source of grapes, both for direct consumption of the fruit and for fermentation to produce wine. The study and cultivation of grapevines is calledviticulture.
Most cultivatedVitis varieties are wind-pollinated withhermaphroditic flowers containing both male and female reproductive structures, while wild species are dioecious. These flowers are grouped in bunches calledinflorescences. In many species, such asVitis vinifera, each successfully pollinated flower becomes a grape berry with the inflorescence turning into a cluster of grapes. While the flowers of the grapevines are usually very small, the berries are often large and brightly colored with sweet flavors that attract birds and other animals to disperse the seeds contained within the berries.[5]
Grapevines usually only produce fruit on shoots that came from buds that were developed during the previousgrowing season. In viticulture, this is one of the principles behind pruning the previous year's growth (or "One year old wood") that includes shoots that have turned hard and woody during the winter (after harvest in commercial viticulture). These vines will be pruned either into acane which will support 8 to 15 buds or to a smallerspur which holds 2 to 3 buds.[5]
In the wild, all species ofVitis are normallydioecious, but under domestication, variants withperfect flowers appear to have been selected. Flower buds are formed late in the growing season and overwinter for blooming in the spring of the next year. They produce leaf-opposedcymes. Vitis is distinguished from other genera in the Vitaceae family by its petals, which remain joined at the tip and detach from the base to fall off together as a calyptra or 'cap'. The flowers arepentamerous. The calyx is greatly reduced or nonexistent in most species. The fruit is aberry in botanical terms, ovoid in shape and juicy, with a two-celled ovary each containing two ovules, thus normally producing four seeds per flower (or fewer by way of aborted embryos).[6]
Other parts of the vine include thetendrils which are leaf-opposed, branched inVitis vinifera, and support the climbing plant by twining around surrounding structures such as branches or thetrellising of avine-training system.
The genusVitis is divided into two subgenera,EuvitisPlanch. have 38 chromosomes (n=19) with berries borne on clusters[7] andMuscadinia Planch. 40 (n=20) with small clusters.[8][9]
MostVitis species are found mostly in the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere in North America and eastern Asia, exceptions being a few in the tropics and the wine grapeVitis vinifera which originated in southern Europe and southwestern Asia. Grape species occur in widely different geographical areas and show a great diversity of form.
Their growth makes leaf collection challenging and polymorphic leaves make identification of species difficult. Mature grapevines can grow up to 48 centimetres (19 inches) in diameter and reach the upper canopy of trees more than 35 metres (115 feet) tall.[11]
Many species are sufficiently closely related to allow easy interbreeding and the resultant interspecific hybrids are invariably fertile and vigorous. Thus the concept of a species is less well defined and more likely represents the identification of different ecotypes ofVitis that have evolved in distinct geographical and environmental circumstances.
The exact number of species is not certain. Plants of the World Online states 80 species and three hybrids are accepted.[2] More than 65 species in Asia are poorly defined.[12] Approximately 25 species are known inNorth America, and these were studied extensively in the late 1800s by German-American botanistGeorge Englemann.[13] By contrast, just one,V. vinifera hasEurasian origins.[14]
Hybrid grapes also exist, and these are primarily crosses betweenV. vinifera and one or more ofV. labrusca,V. riparia orV. aestivalis. Hybrids tend to be less susceptible to frost and disease (notablyphylloxera), but wine from some hybrids may have a little of the characteristic "foxy" taste ofV. labrusca.
TheLatin wordVitis is feminine,[15] and therefore adjectival species names take feminine forms, such asV. vinifera.[16][a]
Phylloxera is an American root aphid that devastatedV. vinifera vineyards in Europe when accidentally introduced in the late 19th century.[13] Attempts were made to breed in resistance from American species, but many winemakers and customers did not like the unusual flavour profile of thehybrid vines. However,V. vinifera grafts readily onto rootstocks of the American species and their hybrids withV. vinifera, and most commercial production of grapes now relies on such grafts.
According to the UN'sFood and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 75,866 square kilometres of the world is dedicated to grapes. Approximately 71% of world grape production is used for wine, 27% as fresh fruit, and 2% as dried fruit. A portion of grape production goes to producing grape juice to be used as a sweetener for fruits canned "with no added sugar" and "100% natural". The area dedicated to vineyards is increasing by about 2% per year.
The following list of top wine-producers shows the corresponding areas dedicated to grapes (regardless of the grapes' final destination):[18]
Grapevines are widely cultivated by gardeners, and numerous suppliers cater specifically for this trade. The plants are valued for their decorative foliage, often colouring brightly in autumn; their ability to clothe walls, pergolas and arches, thus providing shade; and their fruits, which may be eaten as dessert or provide the basis for homemade wines. Popular varieties include:-
The fruit of severalVitis species are grown commercially for consumption as fresh grapes and for fermentation into wine.[26]Vitis vinifera is the most important such species.[27]
The leaves of several species of grapevine are edible and are used in the production ofdolmades and Vietnameselot leaves.[28]
The grapevine (typicallyVitis vinifera) has been used as a symbol since ancient times. In Greek mythology,Dionysus (calledBacchus by the Ancient Romans) was god of the vintage and, therefore, a grapevine with bunches of the fruit are among his attributes. His attendants at theBacchanalian festivals hence had the vine as an attribute, together with thethyrsus, the latter often entwined with vine branches. For the same reason, the Greek wine cup (cantharos) is commonly decorated with the vine and grapes, wine being drunk as alibation to the god.
The grapevine has held profound symbolic significance in Jewish tradition and culture since antiquity.[29] It is referenced 55 times in theHebrew Bible (Old Testament), along with grapes and wine, which are also frequently mentioned (55 and 19, respectively).[30] It is regarded as one of theSeven Species theland of Israel was blessed with,[31][30][32] and is employed several times in the Bible as a symbol of theIsraelites as thechosen people.[33]
Along with the fig tree, the grapevine appears in biblical passages as a symbol of peace, stability, and prosperity. During the reign ofSolomon, a golden age ofIsraelite unity and security is captured in the phrase:"AndJudah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree".[34][32] This imagery reappears in prophetic visions of future peace, such as in theBook of Micah, where the prophet declares:"But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, and none shall make them afraid."[35][32] TheBook of Jeremiah uses vineyard imagery to represent both exile and restoration. In one instance,Judah's removal from the land is likened to the gleaning of a vine.[36][32] In contrast, a later vision ofJeremiah offers hope, with the promise of renewed life in the land:"Again you shall plant vineyards on the mountains ofSamaria; the planters shall plant, and shall enjoy the fruit".[37][32]
In Christianiconography, the vine also frequently appears. It is mentioned several times in the New Testament. We have the parable of the kingdom of heaven likened to the father starting to engage laborers for his vineyard. The vine is used as symbol of Jesus Christ based on his own statement, "I am thetrue vine (John 15:1)." In that sense, a vine is placed as sole symbol on the tomb ofConstantia, the sister ofConstantine the Great, and elsewhere. InByzantine art, the vine and grapes figure in early mosaics, and on the throne ofMaximianus of Ravenna it is used as a decoration.
The vine and wheat ear have been frequently used as symbol of the blood and flesh of Christ, hence figuring as symbols (bread and wine) of theEucharist and are found depicted onostensories. Often the symbolic vine laden with grapes is found in ecclesiastical decorations with animals biting at the grapes. At times, the vine is used as symbol of temporal blessing.[38]
^Brown, Kelly; Sims, Charles; Odabasi, Asli; Bartoshuk, Linda; Conner, Patrick; Gray, Dennis (2016). "Consumer Acceptability of Fresh-Market Muscadine Grapes".Journal of Food Science.81 (11):S2808 –S2816.doi:10.1111/1750-3841.13522.ISSN1750-3841.PMID27741360.Nearly all table grapes that are sold in commercial markets are V. vinifera.
^abcdeShafer-Elliott, Cynthia (2022), Fu, Janling; Shafer-Elliott, Cynthia; Meyers, Carol (eds.),"Fruits, Nuts, Vegetables, and Legumes",T&T Clark Handbook of Food in the Hebrew Bible and Ancient Israel, T&T Clark Handbooks (1 ed.), London: T&T Clark, p. 141,ISBN978-0-567-67982-6, retrieved2025-07-27
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