Delicious and large blue grape varieties: descriptions with photos

Grape

Depending on the variety, grapes can have blue, red, pink, green, milky white, gray, or brown berries. When choosing a grape variety, color plays not only an aesthetic but also a practical role: the fruit's color determines its nutritional value and flavor, due to differences in its chemical composition.

Characteristics of blue grape varieties

Blue grape varieties are similar in berry color to wild grape varieties, which can be dark blue, deep purple, or almost black. All other fruit color variations are the result of human intervention.

In most cases, the blue hue is confined to the fruit skin; the pulp, like the juice, is typically transparent. The color is determined by the concentration and distribution of substances within the skin tissues, such as:

chlorophyll, carotene, xanthophyll (anthoxanthins);
quercetin, quercetin (flavones);
anthocyanin pigments.

Varietal characteristics of blue grapes are associated with the taste, nutritional, and medicinal properties of the product, while differences in plant cultivation techniques are rarely determined by the color of the berries.

Specifics of care

Dark-fruited varieties can have different ripening times, uses, yield levels, and resistance—these factors determine the plant's basic needs. However, blue-fruited grapes also have specific cultivation requirements:

Avoid ripening the harvest in direct sunlight; subdued light is more beneficial. Therefore, minimal leaf thinning is required to improve air circulation on the bush; otherwise, the berries will become faded, unevenly colored, and may become sunburned.
It's important to ensure the plant is adequately supplied with potassium and magnesium. Deficiencies in these nutrients will delay ripening of dark-colored fruits, and the color will be less intense.

Healthy!

In this case, an arched or arbor-shaped form is preferable, as it allows for the creation of a protective canopy of leaves over the clusters. A cup-shaped form is second best.

Beneficial properties

Blue grapes contain many substances that are valuable for human health:

vitamins C, E, PP, as well as all B vitamins except B7 and B12;
antioxidants – beta-carotene, resveratrol, glutathione, melatonin and others (about 300 compounds in total);
organic acids – tartaric, succinic, oxalic, glycolic, malic, gallic, citric, tartaric, salicylic and others;
bioflavonoids – proanthocyanidins, quercetin, quercetin;
phytosterols;
tannins;
minerals – iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, iodine, boron, cobalt, sulfur and molybdenum.

In general, all types of grapes have a similar chemical composition, but depending on the color of the berries, they may contain higher or lower concentrations of certain substances, which determines the degree of usefulness of the product in diseases. Medicine confirms the beneficial effects of dark grapes on these aspects of human health:

Effect on the body	Useful substance
Strengthening the heart muscle.	Resveratrol, copper, potassium.
Increased elasticity of blood vessels, normalization of blood pressure.	Bioflavonoids, copper.
Lowering cholesterol levels, preventing blood clots.	Antioxidants.
Strengthening the immune system.	Vitamins, antioxidants.
Stimulates bowel function (laxative).	Organic acids, fiber.
Activation of hemoglobin production.	Iron.
Increasing the resistance of mucous membranes to damage by bacteria and viruses.	Tannins.
Stimulates brain activity, improves memory, increases stress resistance, prevents senile dementia and Alzheimer's disease.	Bioflavonoids, copper, phosphorus.
Reducing the risk of tumor formation.	Antioxidants.
Prevention of thyroid diseases.	Iodine.
Normalization of hormonal balance in women.	Bor.
Removal of radioactive substances from the body.	Pectin substances.
Prolonging the youthfulness of the skin.	Bioflavonoids.

People suffering from diabetes, liver disease, pancreas, stomach or intestinal problems, or a tendency to diarrhea should avoid eating this delicacy.

Interesting!

The incidence of cardiovascular disease among the French is almost 40% lower than among other Europeans with a comparable standard of living. Scientists attribute this phenomenon to the tradition of regular wine consumption.

Advantages and disadvantages of blue varieties

Choosing a particular shade of grape is a matter of taste, but dark varieties have distinct advantages and disadvantages compared to others. Among the former are:

The largest proportion of substances beneficial for the cardiovascular system.
Lower glycemic index than light fruits – 44-54 versus 44-58, therefore, less increase in blood sugar levels when consumed.
The presence of a waxy coating on the skin, which can also be found on some light-colored varieties. This waxy coating provides additional protection against bacteria, mechanical damage, and adverse weather conditions. This improves the fruit's shelf life and transport stability, on average.
The attractive appearance of the dark blue berries makes them a sought-after commodity.
Blue varieties can be used to make both red and white wines, while light varieties are only suitable for producing white wines.
The vines with black clusters have a highly decorative appearance, making them ideal for use in arbours or hedges.

Among the disadvantages it is necessary to note:

They have a higher calorie content than white fruits – 69 kcal/100 g and 43 kcal/100 g. Strictly speaking, in both cases the indicator is considered average; for comparison, green peas have an energy value of 70 kcal, but for people suffering from excess weight, this difference can be significant.
The negative impact of the product on tooth enamel, manifested in its darkening.
Dark fruits are more likely to cause allergies than white or pink ones.
The need for additional care measures during crop ripening.

Grape varieties with photos and descriptions

When choosing a variety with blue berries, you need to consider all the usual parameters:

productivity;
purpose – table, technical or universal;
fruit parameters (for table fruits) – sweetness, taste, number of seeds, skin hardness;
technical indicators (for wine) – juice release, sugar content and acidity, presence of aftertaste, bouquet;
ripening period;
Growing conditions – resistance to frost, drought, specific requirements for agricultural technology.

Attention!

If grapes are grown for sale, attention should be paid to the commercial qualities of the berries – attractiveness (color, size), shelf life, transportability.

High-yielding varieties

When choosing a grape variety, consider not only the volume of fruit a bush produces, but also the weight of berries per square meter or per acre of planting area. Vigorous grapes take up a lot of space, and even a seemingly large yield may prove unprofitable, especially in a small plot.

Among the blue varieties, there are real record holders in terms of yield and fruit size:

Variety	Harvest, ripening period (days)	Features of the bush structure	Characteristics of fruits	Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Strashensky	2.5 kg/m2, 135-145	Large bunches weighing 0.6-1.7 kg have the shape of an elongated cone or cylinder and can be either dense or loose.	The fruits are round, weigh 6-12 g, and contain 19-20% sugars and 8.5 g/l acids. Suitable for table use.	Ability to withstand temperatures down to -23°C. Resistant to phylloxera and spider mite attacks. Susceptibility to fungi. The fruits do not tolerate long-distance transportation.
Kishmish Jupiter	2-2.4 kg/m2, 110-125	Conical bunches weigh on average 0.4-0.5 kg, but can reach 0.8 kg.	The berries are spherical, slightly flattened, and small (4-5 g). They are intended for table use. The flavor is sweet with a muscat aftertaste.	Winter hardiness allows it to withstand temperatures down to -30°C. Absence of seeds in fruits.
Baron Black or Rapture Black	2 kg/m2, 115-125	Vigorous. Clusters are conical and can be dense or loose. Average weight: 500-700 g, but can range from 1-1.2 kg.	The fruits are round. Sugar content is 17.5%. The skin is covered with a bloom.	Frost resistance down to -25°C. Resistance to powdery mildew, does not extend to other diseases. Requires a lot of space and is demanding in care.
Nadezhda Azos	1.6 kg/m2, 120-130	The berries are loosely packed into the bunch. Each bunch weighs at least 0.7 kg and can reach 2-3 kg.	The fruits are oval, weigh 8-10 g, and crunchy when bitten. Sugar content is up to 17%, acidity – 7 g/l. The taste is sweet.	Withstands frosts down to -22°C.
Muromets	1.3-1.6 kg/m2, 105-110	Vigorous. Bunches are conical and medium-dense. Weight: 0.5-1.1 kg.	The berries are spherical, 4-6 g, and have a bloom. Sugar content is 17-19%, acidity is 6-7 g/l. The taste has a muscat aftertaste.	Not afraid of frosts down to -26°C.
Moldova	1.5-2 kg/m2, 160-170	Conical clusters weigh 0.3-0.6 kg.	The berries are elongated, weighing up to 6 g. The skin is thick but not tough. Sugar content is 16-19%, acidity is 8-10 g/l. The taste has a plum note. A universal variety.	Frost resistance down to -27°C. The fruits tolerate transportation well.

Early blue grape varieties

This parameter is especially important when growing in regions with short summers, where typically only early berries have time to fully ripen. In other cases, you can plant plants with different ripening times to produce fruit in batches over a long period.

Note!

Early grape varieties ripen 105-110 days after the start of the growing season. High-quality early varieties are comparable in taste to late varieties.

The best early ripening blue grape varieties are:

Variety	Ripening period (days)	Features of the bush structure	Characteristics of fruits	Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Tambovsky	106-115	The bunches are dense, 0.5-0.7 kg.	Round, large berries with thick skin. The flavor is tart. Faint aroma. Suitable for desserts.	Frost-resistant – down to -26°C. Average resistance to diseases.
Viking	100-110	Vigorous, loose clusters.	The berries are oval-shaped and large (8-13 g). Sugar content is 16%, acid content is 5-6 g/l. Suitable for table use, the taste is pleasant.	Resistant to frosts down to -21°C. Not susceptible to diseases. The bunches can remain on the bush for a long time, and the berries do not crack. Low yield.
Gala	110-115	Large clusters – up to 2 kg, on average 0.6-0.9 kg.	Oval, large (9-14 g) fruits. Sugar content – 16.5%, acidity – 6.8 g/l. Table grape.	Resistant to frosts down to -21°C. The fruits are not pea-shaped and withstand transportation well. The fruits are prone to cracking when overripe and attract wasps.
Codryanka	110-118	Vigorous. Average bunch weight is 0.5 kg.	The berries are oval, weighing from 7 to 16 g. Sugar concentration is 18-19%, acidity – 6-8 g/l. Pleasant taste.	Frost resistance down to -23°C. Bunches can be kept on the vines for a long time. The fruits are sometimes pea-shaped. There are 1.3 kg of berries per 1 m2.
Husayn North	116-125	Vigorous. Clusters are loose, weighing 0.5-0.7 kg.	Berries are oval, 7-9 g.	Winter hardiness – up to -20°C. Susceptibility to pest damage.
Byzantium	120	Bunches up to 1 kg, conical in shape.	The fruits are very dark, turning black when overripe. They are round and large (12 g). They have a harmonious flavor. They are intended for table use.	Frost resistance – up to -24°C. Berries can be subjected to long-distance transportation. Susceptibility to pest damage.

Technical descriptions of blue grape varieties

In most cases, industrial berries aren't the most delicious when fresh—they're not sweet enough, sometimes tart, and contain a large number of seeds. Wine grapes are typically small, as are the clusters, since this characteristic isn't important for beverage production.

Important!

In the selection of industrial grape varieties, the focus is on the characteristics required for high-quality wine grapes. These include juiciness—juice can account for up to 70-80% of the total pulp weight—and sugar concentration, which should be no less than 17-18%.

The best blue grape varieties for wine making:

Variety	Sugar content; volume of acids; juice yield	Features of the bush structure	Characteristics of fruits	Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Saperavi	17-21.1%; 7.8-12.6 g/l; 80-86%	The bunch is conical, no more than 0.1 kg.	The berry is small (1 g), with a pleasant taste.	Frost resistance down to -20°C. Low resistance to powdery mildew, may be affected by grey rot. Yield: 9-10 kg per 100 m2.
Pinot Noir	21.4%; 7.7 g/l; 75.5%	Clusters are cylindrical, 70-110 g.	The fruits are round, small (1.4 g), covered with thin skin.	The fruits are not prone to cracking. Yield: 0.5-1 kg per 1 m2 of planting. Susceptible to phylloxera, insufficient resistance to gray mold and downy mildew.
Portuguese	16-19%; 6-8 g/l; 76.6-79.3%	The bunches are 250-500 g, elongated, and can be either loose or dense.	Round berries with thin skin and juicy pulp.	Poor transportability of fruits.
Merlot	19.5-22%; 5.2-8.5 g/l; 73.5%	Bunches 110-150 g, medium density.	The berries are dark blue, covered with a waxy coating.	Withstands frosts down to -16…-17°C. Average susceptibility to grape aphid and powdery mildew.
Cabernet Sauvignon	17.5-25%; 5.8-11 g/l; 68-72%	Bunch – 70-80 g, cylindrical.	The berries have medium-thick skin. The flesh is very juicy, with currant notes in the flavor.	Good shelf life of fruits, possibility of long-distance transportation. Resistance to fungi and gray mold. Above-average immunity to leaf rollers and phylloxera. 500-600 g of berries ripen per 1 m2 of vineyard.
Cabernet Franc	15.6-25%; 6.2-7.2 g/l; 67-70%	The weight of a bunch is 70-90 g.	The taste of the fruit contains berry notes (blackberry, raspberry).	High resistance to fungal diseases and phylloxera. Low yield – 350-400 g per square meter of planting.
Magic	23.5%; 8.1 g/l; 62-70%	The bunch is small, loose, conical.	The berries are 1.9 g, oval. The flavor is rather sour, with a honeyed aftertaste. Suitable for the production of sweet wines.	Frost-resistant to -25°C. The bush quickly recovers from frost damage. Weak immunity. Productivity: 1.4-1.6 kg per 1 m2.
Mourvedre	16-21%; 5-7 g/l; 62-68%	Vigorous. Clusters can be cylindrical or conical, dense.	The fruits are round, less often oval.	High susceptibility to fungal attack. Decent drought tolerance. Under drought conditions, yields are 600 g per square meter, but with good irrigation, yields increase significantly.

The diversity of blue-fruited varieties offers a choice to suit every taste and purpose—for commercial or private consumption, for wine, jam, and juice production, or for gardening. Regardless of plot size, growing region, or care requirements, you can find the perfect purple-black grape variety.