Vitis vinifera Phoenix

The Phoenix grapevine is a hybrid variety of German origin, highly productive, which produces a white table grape with Muscat notes, ready to be harvested around mid-September. These medium-sized berries are tightly packed on compact clusters, they have a thin skin, are crunchy, and have juicy flesh. They can be consumed as they are, allowing them to fully ripen until they turn yellow, or after winemaking. This variety is highly resistant to major vine diseases, but does not tolerate significant water stress or excessively dry or humid conditions. It thrives in most neutral to limestone soils, well-drained and in sunny locations. It is very cold-resistant. Its foliage turns orange and red in autumn.

The wine grape (Vitis vinifera) grew in the wild over 5000 years ago in North and Central America, Europe, and Central and Eastern Asia. The subspecies sylvestris still exists, it is a climbing vine, growing on the edge of forests and capable of reaching great heights in trees. Its introduction in France for cultivation was done by the Phocaeans in Provence, around 600 BC. The current grapevine varieties are linked to the vinifera subspecies (although there are other cultivated species, but they are very rare). Economically, wine grape predominates over table grape, with over 200 authorised grape varieties in France, the result of centuries of selection work.

'Phoenix' is a hybrid obtained from a cross-breeding carried out in 1960 in Germany by Gerhardt Alleweldt between Bacchus Weiss and Villard Blanc. It is a vigorous climbing shrub with a rather upright habit, the Phoenix vine can easily reach 3 to 4m (10 to 13ft) in height and 2 to 3m (7 to 10ft) in spread if not pruned. It needs to be trained on a trellis or arbor that it can quickly cover. Its foliage is a beautiful matte light green, with leaves that are three or five-lobed, toothed all around. Like most grapes, it is a self-fertile variety. Its flowering occurs in May-June depending on the year and the region, offering very small hermaphrodite greenish flowers.
They develop into medium-sized, compact clusters. The berries are medium-sized, oval-shaped, initially greenish-yellow and turning golden yellow when ripe. These fruits are ready to be harvested around mid-September. With a fairly thin skin, these berries are sweet with a pleasant hint of Muscat flavor. This variety is highly resistant to diseases. It is useful to summer prune it to remove certain leaves so that the grapes are well exposed to the sun and can acquire that beautiful golden colour, a sign of their taste.

Highly frost-resistant (up to -20°C (-4°F)), this vine grows in full sun, in neutral to limestone soil, or even slightly acidic, well-drained. Ordinary soil, even stony soil, is sufficient, as it tolerates drought well. A too-rich soil or excessive fertilisation will benefit vegetative growth rather than fruit production. Simply apply organic fertiliser after harvest to provide reserves for the winter. Your vine will use it to restart well in the following spring.

'Phoenix' grapes can be consumed fresh or in juice, for example in a vitamin-packed fruit cocktail for breakfast. Generally, grapes are rich in B vitamins, a source of fibre and manganese, and they are well-supplied with antioxidants. They are also believed to play a role in preventing cardiovascular diseases, and above all, they are a healthy, natural, and delicious dessert. To create original fruit salads, sow Cape gooseberry or Peruvian ground cherry (Physalis peruviana) at the end of spring to harvest its amazing orange fruits from August to October. And to enjoy grapes for a longer period, plant other varieties of vines that ripen at different times compared to 'Phoenix'.