Whether red or blue, winter-hardy, early-ripening, seedless or fungus-resistant vine varieties - we show what you need to consider when making the perfect choice.
Grape vines are perfect for adding some holiday flair to your own garden. The plants not only produce aromatic grapes, but also impress with their Mediterranean look and colorful autumn leaves. However, you should take your time when choosing the right grape variety.
Tip: You can order a particularly large selection of different grape varieties from Rebschule Schmidt in Obernbreit.
Select grape varieties: Criteria for choosing the variety
In the following, we have summarized the most important characteristics for you that need to be considered before buying the right grape variety. We also present the 20 best and most popular table grape varieties for Germany.
Colour of Grape
Depending on your personal taste, you can choose the desired type here. The color spectrum ranges from light grapes to red and rosé to blue berries. The darker varieties in particular have a slightly more intense taste, while lighter grape varieties contain the popular nutmeg aroma more strongly.
Seedless or seeded grape varieties
Seedless or low-seeded grapes are particularly popular with children. You should definitely take this into account when choosing the variety, so that your own offspring enjoy nibbling on the he althy fruit. A small disadvantage of seedless and low-seeded varieties is that the individual berries are smaller on average than in seeded varieties. This is due to a certain plant hormone that the grape seeds secrete, thus stimulating the growth of the berry.
Mushroom proof grape varieties
Vine plants are grateful in culture, their demands on soil, fertilizer and water are low. As long as you can provide your vine variety with a sunny and somewhat sheltered location, the vines will thrive without any problems. However, their susceptibility to fungal diseases is problematic. In your own garden, however, you should largely avoid using pesticides (in this case fungicides).That's why we strongly recommend choosing a fungus-resistant variety.
Maturity and winter hardiness of grape varieties
Particularly away from the wine-growing regions, the hobby gardener should make sure that the grapes ripen even in a cool summer. This applies all the more if the location is not in full sun and protected. Various grape varieties (especially from Eastern Europe) are particularly hardy and not endangered by late frost.
The 20 best grape varieties (overview)
The following varieties are particularly suitable for cultivation in our climatic conditions. Many of these varieties are also resistant to fungi and do not require the use of pesticides. The top 20 varieties are listed below with their most important characteristics.
Aljoshenkin: Russian breed, very rare in Germany; very large, oval grapes with yellow skin and seeds; very precocious variety from mid-August; crunchy flesh with a delicate fruity aroma; above-average fertility, up to 10 kg harvest per stick; very good frost hardness; good resistance to fungi.
Arkadia: In Germany, the variety may only be propagated by Rebschule Schmidt; very large, pointed-oval grapes with a light skin and almost no seeds; precocious variety from the beginning of September; excellent-tasting pulp with a delicate, fruity aroma; up to 1.3 kg of crop per stick; good resistance to fungi and frost.
Arkadia Rozowa: Russian crossing of Moldawa x Cardinal; rarity with autumn leaves turning red; large, oval grapes with thin skin and pips; precocious variety from the beginning of September; very juicy flesh with a delicate fruity aroma; very good resistance to fungi and frost (up to -23°C).
Centennial seedless: American crossbreed of Gold x (Emperor x Pirovano 75); ornamental, heavily lobed foliage; large, oval, pointed grapes with greenish-yellow, thin skin, no seeds; precocious variety from the beginning of September; pulp with a fine nutmeg aroma; very good frost hardness; adequate resistance to fungi.
Chevchenko: Newer Russian variety; rarity with autumn leaves turning red; medium-sized, oval grapes with blue skin, very few seeds; very precocious variety from mid-August; fine fruity aroma; location uncomplicated; good resistance to fungi and frost.
Frumoasa alba: novelty from Moldova; in Germany only available from Rebschule Schmidt; size,round grapes with yellowish-green skin, few seeds; mid-early variety from mid-September; very sweet flesh with fine pineapple and nutmeg aroma; very good resistance to fungi and frost.
Kishmish Luchistji: Very popular especially in Ukraine; red autumn leaves; small, oval berries with a pink skin and no seeds; precocious variety from the beginning of September; crunchy flesh with a delicate fruity aroma; very good frost hardness; adequate resistance to fungi.
Liwia: Ukrainian crossing of Flamingo x Arkadia; large, oval berries with a pink to violet skin, few seeds; precocious variety from the beginning of September; crunchy flesh with nutmeg aroma, honey-sweet when fully ripe; very good frost hardness; good resistance to fungi.
Michurinsky: Originally from the former Soviet Union; very decorative autumn foliage turning red; round berries with seeds and a thin, blue skin; very precocious variety from mid-August; tasty pulp with a delicate fruity aroma; Due to its extreme frost hardiness (-35°C), it is also well suited for unfavorable locations; good resistance to fungus; also suitable for extracting juice.
Muscat bleu: new breed from Switzerland; currently most popular blue variety; yellow autumn leaves; oval, pointed berries with seeds; precocious variety from the beginning of September; crisp, deep blue flesh with a wonderful nutmeg aroma; very good frost hardness and resistance to fungi; also suitable for extracting juice.
Romulus: American variety that is particularly popular with children; beautiful fall foliage of pink and red; small, round berries with a thin, yellow skin, seedless; precocious variety from the beginning of September; delicately fruity pulp; very good frost hardness; good resistance to fungi.
Rosowie Tschudo: Originally from the Ukraine; rarity with autumn leaves turning red; medium-sized, oval berries with pink skin and seeds; mid-early variety from mid-September; crunchy flesh with a delicate fruity aroma; very good frost hardness; good resistance to fungus; particularly suitable for warm locations such as walls or house walls.
Red Victoria: Russian crossing of SV 12304 x Wostrog; rarity with autumn leaves turning red; large, slightly oval berries with seeds and a pink, thin skin; very precocious variety from mid-August; crunchy flesh with a fine nutmeg aroma; very high and safe yields; very good frost hardiness (-27°C); good resistance to fungi.
Solotoi Don: New Russian breed from Biruinza x Wostorg; size,round berries weighing up to 10 g, with seeds and golden-yellow skin; mid-early variety from mid-September; crunchy flesh with a delicately fruity, sweet aroma; very good frost hardness (-24°C) and resistance to fungi.
Straschinski: Originally from Moldova; rarity with autumn leaves turning red; very large, round berries with seeds and a blue skin, weighing up to 12 g; mid-early variety from mid-September; delicately fruity pulp; very good frost hardness (-25°C) and resistance to fungi; prefers a warm location (e.g. south-facing house wall).
Suzi: Hungarian new breed; large, round berries with seeds and yellow skin; mid-early variety from mid-September; juicy, crunchy flesh with a fruity, sweet aroma; very good frost hardness and resistance to fungi; also suitable for extracting juice.
Vanessa: originally from Canada, especially popular with children; medium-sized, round berries with a pink skin, seedless; precocious variety from the beginning of September; crunchy flesh with a delicate fruity aroma; good frost hardiness; very good resistance to fungus.
Velicka: Bulgarian new breed from Bolgar x Alphonse Lavallé; rarity with autumn leaves turning red; very large, oval berries with blue skin and no seeds; mid-early variety from mid-September; crunchy flesh with a delicate fruity aroma; good frost hardness and resistance to fungi.
Venus: originally from the USA; currently the best of the seedless varieties; red autumn leaves; medium-sized, round berries with blue skin; precocious variety from the beginning of September; delicately fruity pulp with strawberry aroma; good frost hardiness; very good fungal resistance; suitable for pergola greening.
Vodograi: Ukrainian crossing of Arkadia x Kischmisch lutschistii; rarity with autumn leaves turning red; large, oval berries with seeds and bright pink-red-purple skin; mid-early variety from mid-September; very juicy flesh with a delicate fruity aroma; very good frost hardiness (-23°C); good resistance to fungi.
Now that you've decided on a grape variety, it's time to plant the vines. See our article for a detailed guide on how to plant grape vines.