Varietal

Grape varieties can also alter the flavor, aroma, and texture of wine. Many are not suitable for winemaking, while others are selected to produce the most exquisite elixirs. Choosing the right grape variety in combination with the type of terroir is essential to achieve the best results. The grapevine, Vitis vinifera, is a semi-woody climbing plant that, when left to grow freely, can reach more than 30 meters, but which, due to human activity and annual pruning, is reduced to a small shrub measuring about 1 meter. Its prized fruit, the grape, is the raw material for making wine. The system used to train vines at altitude is called a parral (a pergola-style trellis). The land planted with vines is called a vineyard. Wine is the fermented alcoholic beverage produced from the juice of Vitis vinifera grapes. Most of the grapes cultivated in the world come from the Vitis vinifera species, native to Mediterranean Europe and Central Asia. In smaller quantities, they are produced in America and Asia. Although it is the dominant variety in juice and wine production, it is also sold as fresh table grapes, dried, and used in food preparation (jams, jellies, and other products).