The red grape variety comes from Azerbaijan; the name means "laugh" or "cheerful". Synonyms are Chindogni, Chireni, Gara Shira, Hindogni, Hindognue, Khendorni, Khindogny, Khndogni, Scireni, Shireni, Sireni and Sveni. The medium to late ripening vine is resistant to fungal diseases and drought, but sensitive to frost. It produces alcohol-rich red wines, which are aged as fortified dessert wines. The variety is mainly cultivated in the Nagorno-Karabakh region (split off from Azerbaijan) in the southwest of the country. Further stocks are planned in Armenia, Russia and Uzbekistan. However, no stocks were reported in 2016 (statistics Kym Anderson).
Source: Wine Grapes / J. Robinson, J. Harding, J. Vouillamoz / Penguin Books Ltd. 2012
Pictures: Ursula Brühl, Doris Schneider, Julius Kühn Institute (JKI)
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