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table grape

uva de mesa (ES)
raisin de table (F)
table grape (GB)
uva da tavola (I)
uva de mesa (PO)

Colloquial term for grape varieties that, in contrast to wine grapes, are mainly grown as eating grapes for fresh consumption or for the production of sultanas. In ancient times, the Greeks and Romans cultivated special varieties with particularly sweet and large berries, which were the most popular and important fruit not only for the wealthy (alongside figs) but also for the common people. They were not only used for eating, but also as a sweetener for food and drink due to the lack of sugar. Transcaucasia and Central Asia are considered to be the original home. This is where species developed that are considered to be the ancestors of today's table grapes.

Tafeltrauben - Stilleben mit Trauben, Bananen und Apfel

Characteristics

Eating grapes have different quality criteria to the wine grapes intended for wine production. These are loose berries, a beautiful colour, evenly sized and juicy berries with as few or no seeds as possible, thin elastic skin, long berry stalk, firm flesh and shelf life for longer transport. The seedlessness also causes negative characteristics, which are prevented by fertilisation, irrigation and growth-regulating measures. Gibberellins (growth-regulating hormones) are used to produce large berries. Ripening as early as possible is desirable. The sugar content should be at least 130 g/kg of berries (55 °Oe or 11 °KMW).

Over the last hundred years, countless new varieties with the desired characteristics have been created worldwide. One of the most important breeding goals is resistance to fungi, so-called PIWI varieties. These are often hybrid crosses of European and American vines. The American species provide the desired resistance to both types of mildew. They are grown in a warm climate or in greenhouses and can then be marketed all year round. Table grapes should be pruned back hard in late winter. Winter pruning protects against diseases and ensures a rich yield later on. As non-climacteric fruit, grapes do not ripen after the harvest.

EU law

Since the EU Wine Market Regulation 2000, table grapes are no longer subject to wine law. Cultivation is therefore no longer bound to the vineyard area quantities specified in the vineyard register for wine production and is free. Grapes classified as wine grapes may not be marketed as table grapes (only grape varieties that have been classified as such by the wine-growing states - in Austria the federal states - may be planted for wine production). No Federweißer or Sturm, grape must or wine may be produced from the table grapes, not even for personal consumption.

The planting of wine grape varieties for commercial table grape production is not permitted. However, there are also cut grapes, i.e. wine grapes that may also be marketed as eating grapes. These are, for example, Chasselas (Gutedel) and Schiava Grossa (Trollinger). In the trade, table grapes are offered in three quality classes: Extra (flawless), I (good quality) and II (marketable). The following requirements apply to all of them: no rot, mould or pest infestation, no visible foreign substances (pesticides, dirt), a natural aromatic film and a sufficient degree of ripeness.

Production quantities

Since 2000, global table grape production has doubled, with an average annual growth rate of 3.2%. In 2022, a total of 74.5 million tonnes of grapes were processed worldwide.

Pressed grapes: 34.1 million tonnes (45.8%) were used for the production of wine. This resulted in 258 million hectolitres. As a rule of thumb, it can be assumed that 1.3 kg of grapes are needed to produce 1 litre of wine. 3.2 million tonnes (4.3%) were used for the production of grape juice, concentrated grape must and RCGM (rectified concentrated grape must). This resulted in 25 million hectolitres.

Unpressed grapes: of which table grapes with 31.5 million tonnes (42.3%) and sultanas with 5.7 million tonnes (7.7%).

The top five producing countries are China (12.6 million tonnes), India (2.8 million), Turkey (2.2 million), Egypt (1.4 million) and Iran (1.3 million), which together account for 64%, or just under two thirds, of the global total. The other countries in the ranking are Uzbekistan (1.2 million), Italy (1 million), the USA (0.9 million), Brazil (0.8 million) and Peru (0.8 million).

Tafeltrauben - Afus Ali, Muscat d’Alexandrie, Sultana, Cardinal

Table grape varieties

Today there are well over a thousand different table grape varieties, 99% of which are new varieties. Some of them are also suitable as ornamental vines. The world's most productive table grape breeder was undoubtedly the Hungarian János Mathiász (1838-1921), who made around 3,500 crosses. The Italian pomologist Alberto Piròvano (1884-1973) was also of great importance. The picture shows the world's top 4 table grapes; the most important ones in bold:

Aasimy to Autumn Seedless

Baco Chasselas to Burra Blanca

Calastra to Csaba Gyöngye

Dabouki to Duchess of Buccleugh

Edelweiss to Excelsior

Favourite to Frumoasa Alba

Galante to Gomaresh

Happenbach to Huxelrebe

Ichkimar to Italia

Jifeng to Jumbo Red

Kachichi to Kyoho

Lady Downe's Seedling to Lyana

Madeleine Angevine to Muscatel

Narancsizü to Nyora

Oeillade to Ozana

Palatina to Pukhliakovsky

Red Globe to Ruby Okuyama

Schiava Grossa to Super Hamburg

Tajka e Bardhë to Triomphe d'Alsace

Urbana to Winchell

Yapincak to Zierfandler White

Further information

For more information, see also wine grapes (grapes for wine production), crossbreeding, new breeding, vine nursery and breeding (creation of new varieties), vine (plant), grape shape (appearance) and grape (fruit). The standard work "Wine Grapes - A complete guide to 1,368 vine varieties" was used as an important source on grape varieties with the kind permission of the Swiss biologist Dr José Vouillamoz. All work and measures in the vineyard can be found under vineyard care. A list of keywords relevant to grape varieties can be found under Vine.

Still life: by David Mark on Pixabay
Table grapes: Ursula Brühl, Doris Schneider, Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI)

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Roman Horvath MW

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Roman Horvath MW
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