Isabella - a versatile grape with strawberry flavor

Origin

The grape is a natural hybrid that resulted from the pollination of European noble grapes with pollen from the native American Vitis Labrusca.
The discovery of the new variety belongs to the breeder William Prince, who discovered it in 1816 on the lands of George Gibbs. The name of the new variety was allegedly given by the name of the landowner's wife.

During the spread of Isabella in America, and later in Europe, winegrowers noted its unpretentiousness, cold resistance and high yield.

The characteristic taste found both supporters and opponents, but Isabella gained a strong position in the second half of the 19th century thanks to its resistance to the original American pest - phylloxera, which destroyed entire hectares of vineyards in Europe.

At the end of the 20th century, Isabella was banned from growing for wine in the European Union and the United States, allegedly due to the presence of methyl alcohol and a “foxy” taste. Later, the health data was not confirmed, but the popularity of grapes decreased significantly.

Harm from Isabella grapes

Isabella grapes are beneficial to the body, but under certain circumstances they can cause harm. Doctors do not recommend eating black fruits under the following conditions:

• High content increases gas formation in the intestines, which is why grapes are not recommended for people prone to flatulence. Even a healthy person should not overuse berries.
• An increased amount of simple carbohydrates makes berries dangerous for diseases such as diabetes.
• The calorie content in the fruits is increased, the energy value of the product is 70-73 kcal/100 g, which is higher than that of other varieties. This variety is not recommended for obese people who want to reduce the calorie content of the menu.
• Polyphenols negatively affect filtration in the kidneys. The hybrid is contraindicated for people with chronic and acute diseases of these organs.
• After eating the fruits, you should rinse your mouth, as the juice damages tooth enamel.
• In some cases, the hybrid causes allergies.
• You should not combine the consumption of grapes with milk, fatty foods, or carbonated water, so as not to cause digestive problems.
• Pregnant, lactating women and children under 3 years of age will not benefit from the Isabella grape variety.

In order for grapes to be useful, all contraindications to its use should be taken into account. You should also not overuse berries, otherwise their benefits will turn into harm.

Dangerous properties of grapes

Back in the 70s of the last century, it was discovered that Isabella wine contains more methyl alcohol than other brands. Studies in different countries of the world have confirmed this feature. It is due to the fact that pectins are converted into methyl alcohol during the fermentation process. They are found in any variety of grapes, but Isabella has more of them in its composition. If in wines from European varieties the amount of this substance is 30-40 mg/l, then in Isabella it is 70-120 mg. It ends up in both industrial and homemade wine.

Eating a lot of berries can be harmful

Methyl alcohol, during its breakdown in the digestive tract, turns into formaldehyde and formic acid. Formaldehyde negatively affects the liver and nervous system. It damages the optic nerve and causes blindness. In large doses the substance is life-threatening; in low doses it causes chronic poisoning.

Over the past decades, many firms have tried to refute this statement. There is information that some brands of red wines contain even more methyl alcohol, up to 350 mg/l. They called the data falsification ordered by producers of more expensive types of wine, because the Isabella brand belongs to the cheap price category.

But most winemakers, as well as national governments, have a different opinion. Now this brand is banned in Europe and most of the vineyards have been destroyed, almost not a single planting has survived. Cultivation at home continues, but more often as an ornamental plant.

Planting and care

Traces of the North American species Vitis Labruska and its native habitat have influenced the cultivation of Isabella grapes.
It is not so thermophilic due to the fact that the ancestor grows in more northern regions compared to the Mediterranean Vitis Vinifera. It also needs more moisture. Therefore, Isabella is less demanding about the dryness of the area. At the same time, it allows cultivation on moister soils.

However, no one has canceled the combination of active temperatures, so if you want to get a ripe harvest by autumn, you should locate the future vineyard in a sunny area.

One of the main care requirements is pinching and trimming shoots.

Climate and region of growth

In Russia, Isabella is grown in the southern latitudes - Krasnodar and Stavropol Territories, in Dagestan. Large areas of vineyards of this variety have traditionally been in Crimea.

The variety's winter hardiness and tolerance to humid climates allows it to be effectively grown in the Volga region. Among Russia's closest neighbors, Isabella continues to be cultivated in Moldova, Georgia, and Azerbaijan.

Wines from this variety are also loved in South America, in particular in Brazil. In Europe and the USA, Isabella can be found only among a few enthusiasts.

The soil

Isabella is undemanding to soil and grows excellently without problems on most types of steppe and forest-steppe soils. Poor soil composition is not a hindrance if the required doses of fertilizers are applied in a timely manner.

The grapes are very unpretentious, grow well, but have their own characteristics, which we will discuss below.

Useful properties of grapes

Grapes have a positive effect on the body

Dark large fruits contain almost all the vitamins and microelements necessary for humans. These grapes are especially rich in potassium and iron. Potassium affects the myocardium and improves heart function, iron increases the level of hemoglobin in the blood, which is why Isabella is recommended to eat if she is anemic. Vitamin PP, which is contained in large quantities in fruits, prevents allergies.

Anthocyanins are a valuable component of berries. These substances give the fruits a dark tint. They have a positive effect on the immune system and can stop the growth of cancerous tumors. Pectins, the number of which is increased in the hybrid, also strengthen the immune system and improve digestion. Flavonoids, catechins and polyphenols increase the overall tone of the body, remove toxins, protect the liver and improve its function.

Isabella grapes thin the blood and lower cholesterol levels, which prevents the formation of atherosclerotic plaques on blood vessels. Its benefits for heart diseases are not only this. The berry reduces blood pressure and strengthens the myocardium. The rich composition has a positive effect on the condition of the skin and the functioning of all organs. It is recommended to eat it to prevent aging and improve performance. To increase the effectiveness of the grape diet, it is recommended to eat the berries along with the seeds and skins.

It turns out that not only the fruits of Isabella grapes have benefits. The leaves of this plant also have medicinal properties and are used in folk medicine. They contain natural antiseptics, so the leaves are applied to wounds to avoid infection. Steamed leaves are used to gargle for sore throat. If you apply several green leaves to the patient’s body, they will reduce fever and relieve pain.

Features of cultivation

Like any plant, grapes have their own cycles and subtleties. Next, we will tell you the secrets of cultivation, which were collected from the combined experience of winegrowers in the CIS countries.

Planting and Harvest Time

Due to the high growth rate of the bush, cuttings are planted in the spring. During the first year, the chibouk takes root and produces the first few branches, of which only one should be left.

For Krasnodar and Crimea, the optimal planting time is the end of March - the beginning of April, for the Volga region - the second half of the fourth month.

The harvest begins in mid-September and can last a month. Strong bunches and berries can hang on the bush practically without spoiling or drying out until the first frost.

Watering and fertilizing

A mature Isabella grapevine requires at least 15 liters of water per watering.

In hot and dry summers, such an operation should be carried out at least twice a week, otherwise the plant will not have enough moisture to form juicy bunches.

As for fertilizers, it is advisable to fertilize in several stages:

• a week before flowering;
• in the middle of the ripening period (approximately mid-summer);
• two to three weeks before the berries become ripe.

As fertilizers, the simplest natural compounds will be sufficient: humus, compost, bird droppings diluted with water, as well as wood ash. If necessary, add complex mineral fertilizers such as nitroammophoska.

Expert opinion

Vladimir Mayer

Amateur winegrower with more than 7 years of experience.

It is not worth adding a lot of nitrogen after the berries have already formed and are ripening - this can provoke the growth of green mass, while all the forces of the plant at this time should be directed to the bunches.

Trimming

A vigorous bush requires annual pruning. It is best to do it in the fall, at the end of October - beginning of November, when the entire harvest has been harvested and the juice begins to stop on the eve of frost.

Correctly guessing the time means minimizing the loss of juice and preventing the vine from becoming diseased.

Pruning in spring is quite risky. If you produce it early, when the juice has not begun to circulate through the sleeves, there is a danger of being exposed to spring frosts. With late pruning, Isabella begins to “cry” profusely, while this juice could have gone to the growth of new shoots.

Diseases and pests

Mildew

Spotted necrosis

Bacterial cancer

Isabella is resistant to most pests and fungal diseases. The most common grape “diseases” - mildew and oidium, as well as gray rot - affect grapes, but only slightly, almost without destroying the crop.

Isabella requires almost no spraying, although young plants should be treated with “quadris” or “actillic” for preventive purposes.

Characteristics

This variety has significant differences from other grape varieties. Thanks to which he gained particular popularity.

Ripening period

“Isabella” is a late ripening grape. The berries reach full ripeness 170-180 days after bud break.

Harvesting is carried out from the second half of October to the beginning of November.

Important! If there have not been enough sunny days during the season, the berries may not have time to ripen.

Bush

The vine grows very actively and grows so much over the summer period that it is necessary to prune the bush in the fall. Removing excess shoots will help ensure normal metabolism and ensure a bountiful harvest next season, with the greatest juiciness and sweetness of the berries.

Pruning allows you not only to remove excess shoots, but also to give the bush a beautiful, functional shape.

Adjusting the shape of an adult vine is quite problematic. Therefore, the formation of the bush should begin from the second year after planting. Thanks to properly selected pruning, the grape bush will develop healthy, and caring for it will become simple and convenient.

“Isabella” does not require winter shelter, so the high-standard form of the bush is most suitable for this grape variety. This molding will provide the greatest illumination of the bunches, which will make the berries full and sweet.

This variety is often used to landscape gazebos, verandas and other home elements. Thanks to its rapid growth, the vineyard will soon become a real decoration of your site and create additional shade.

There are several varieties of high-standard formation:

• Double shoulder cordon.
• Four-arm cordon.
• Multi-sleeved.
• With spare sleeve.

Pruning helps to get powerful shoots that bring a good harvest. To form grapes on a high trunk, you can use the usual method, using specially grown annual shoots. This method will take 5-6 years. To speed up the process, stepchildren are used that grow on the shoots. Then the standard will be formed for the 4th year. Most gardeners prefer the second, faster method.

bunches

By autumn, cone-shaped clusters ripen on the vine, on which dark, small-sized berries are located at an average density.

On average, each bunch weighs about 130-250 grams. There is also a large-fruited “isabella”, the weight of its hands sometimes reaches 2.5 kg.

Reference! The more clusters formed on the vine, the smaller they will grow.

Berries

“Isabella” berries are difficult to confuse with another grape variety, both in appearance and in taste.

Medium-sized, round, dark blue, almost black berries are covered with a whitish waxy coating. The slimy pulp is easily separated from the dense skin when pressed and has a light green color. Usually each berry contains 1-2 seeds.

Weight of 1 berry is 2-3 g, sugar content up to 18%.

Taste

The berries have a pronounced nutmeg taste and aroma. Many lovers of this variety note that the taste contains shades of strawberries, black currants and grapes at the same time. However, to some people the aroma of “Isabella” is reminiscent of the smell of wet fox fur. You can learn how to make delicious wine from Isabella in a separate article.

Comparison with other species

Propagation by cuttings

How to seat? During autumn pruning, cuttings can be prepared for planting. To do this, cut off a part of a productive annual shoot with a diameter of about 7-10 mm and a length of 1.5-2 m .

There are 2 preparation methods:

1. The cut vine is cut into small pieces of 20-40 cm. Moreover, the upper section of the cut should be 2-3 cm above the eye.
   Then cuttings soak for 1-2 hours in a solution of ferrous sulfate and stored until spring in a cold place.

   For better preservation, they are wrapped in wet cloth and tightly tied in plastic bags.

   At the beginning of February, the cuttings are taken out and a substrate of wet pine sawdust is placed.

   The substrate is constantly moistened, not allowing it to dry out. After small roots appear, the cuttings are planted in prepared soil made of sand, compost and soil until they are completely rooted.

2. The leaves are removed from the prepared vine, rolled into a ring and, without additional processing, stored in a dark, cool place. Cuttings are cut in the spring, leaving 5-6 eyes on each. After this, they are placed in water for 2-3 weeks and placed in a sunny, warm place until roots form . Next, the cuttings are rooted in special soil using mineral fertilizers.

Such cuttings can be planted in a permanent place in early May.

Reviews from gardeners

Tatiana Belyakova

45 years old, amateur gardener

The sum of active temperatures for Isabella is about 3000 – 3200°. This means that in the southern regions with bright sunshine, it will sing a little earlier, on about the 150th - 160th day, but in the north, where there are fewer sunny days, it will need at least 180 days, that is, almost six months to fully ripen.

Hutsul Sergey Ilyich

42 years old, 8 years experience in growing grapes

One of the main care requirements is pinching and trimming shoots. Without these measures, the grapes produce too many side vines and become overgrown with green matter, causing the berries to become smaller and lose their taste.

Harvesting

In order to get high-quality homemade wine, Isabella will need to harvest in a timely manner.

It happens like this:

1. Only ripened berries should be picked before the temperature reaches sub-zero temperatures;
2. harvesting is carried out in dry weather no earlier than three days after the end of the last rain;
3. The harvested crop must rest for two days, after which the preparation of wine begins.

To create high-quality wine, natural wine yeasts are needed, which are found and ripen on grape berries.

Let's sum it up

Isabella is an undeservedly forgotten grape variety that fell victim to commodity protectionism. Today it is inferior in taste to many late hybrids. However, its unpretentiousness will allow you to get a harvest where another vine will die or require a lot of effort to maintain.

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Description of the variety

When it comes to the Isabella grape, what is its varietal description? The vine has a high growth rate with well-ripening stems. Perennial sections of the bush have bark with coarse fibers of a reddish color.

The leaves are large, round, mostly three-lobed or entire, smooth on top with a dark green color, and light green on the underside with dense hairs.

The notch on the petioles is open, with a arch with a sharp bottom. The teeth on the edges of the blades are straight with pointed tips. The flowers are light green, small, 3-5 cm in diameter, bisexual. Isabella is able to pollinate itself even in inclement weather and without the help of insects.

Gardeners did not notice any significant drop of flowers or shredding of the variety. Isabella's ability to quickly grow and expand is used by gardeners for decorative plantings on gazebos, when creating alleys, and for decorating fences.

People's opinions

There are various reviews about Isabella wine. These can be positive and negative reviews, which are based on the following factors:

1. quality of the finished product;
2. individual characteristics of each person;
3. what dishes was this wine served with?
4. the amount of drink consumed.

It must be remembered that alcoholic beverages should not be consumed in large quantities. This will negatively affect a person's health. On the other hand, drinking red wine in small quantities is recommended to improve health.

Buy quality wine and drink it in small quantities. This will significantly improve the health of the human body!