Gewurztraminer RJ

Grapevine

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Somerset'

Summary: The woody shoot of 'Gewurztraminer RJ' is reddish brown while that of 'Somerset' is yellowish brown. Before tying, the shoot of 'Gewurztraminer RJ' has an erect attitude while that of 'Somerset' has a semi-erect to horizontal attitude.
The plants of 'Gewurztraminer RJ' have a mid-season to late time of bud burst while those of 'Somerset' have an early season bud burst. The upper side of the young leaf blade of 'Gewurztraminer RJ' is yellow green whereas that of 'Somerset' is green. The prostrate hairs between the main veins on the lower side of the young leaf blade of 'Gewurztraminer RJ' are absent or very sparse whereas they are dense on 'Somerset'. The mature leaf blade of 'Gewurztraminer RJ' is large, pentagonal and has five lobes whereas the mature leaf blade of 'Somerset' is very large, circular and has three lobes. The upper lateral sinuses of the mature leaf are of medium depth on 'Gewurztraminer RJ' whereas they are shallow on 'Somerset'. The arrangement of the lobes of the petiole sinus for 'Gewurztraminer RJ' is half open to slightly open whereas that of 'Somerset' is wide open. The berries of 'Gewurztraminer RJ' mature mid-season whereas those of 'Somerset' mature early. The berry bunch of 'Gewurztraminer RJ' is very large and dense whereas that of 'Somerset' is medium to large and very dense. The length of the peduncle of the primary bunch of 'Gewurztraminer RJ' is long whereas that of 'Somerset' is of medium length. The berries of 'Gewurztraminer RJ' are large to very large with dark red violet skin without bloom whereas those of 'Somerset' are medium sized with rose to red colour skin without bloom. The berry of 'Gewurztraminer RJ' has a slight muscat flavour whereas the berry of 'Somerset' has a fruity flavour.

Description:

YOUNG SHOOT TIP: slightly open, absent or very sparse prostrate hairs, absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration of prostrate hairs, absent or very sparse erect hairs
SHOOT: erect attitude (before tying), dorsal side of internodes are red, dorsal side of nodes are green and red, ventral side of internodes and nodes are green, absent or very sparse erect hairs on internodes
WOODY SHOOTS: reddish brown, mid-season to late bud burst
TENDRILS: medium to long

YOUNG LEAF BLADE: yellow green upper side, absent or very sparse prostrate hairs between main veins on lower side, absent or very sparse to sparse erect hairs on main veins on lower side
MATURE LEAF: large blade, pentagonal, absent or very weak blistering on upper side, five lobes, medium depth upper lateral sinuses, open arrangement of lobes of upper lateral sinuses, arrangement of lobes of petiole sinus is half open to slightly open, length of petiole is equal to length of middle vein
MATURE LEAF (UPPER SIDE): absent or very low to low proportion of main veins with anthocyanin colouration
MATURE LEAF (LOWER SIDE): absent or very sparse prostrate hairs between main veins, sparse erect hairs on main veins
TEETH OF MATURE LEAF MARGIN: medium to long, medium length to width ratio, both sides are straight

FLOWER: fully developed stamens and fully developed gynoecium

BERRY BUNCH: very large, dense, long peduncle of primary bunch
BERRY: begins ripening mid-season, large to very large, globose shape, moderately easy to detach from pedicel, slight muscat flavour, complete seed formation
BERRY SKIN: dark red violet (without bloom), medium thickness
BERRY FLESH: absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration, moderately firm

Origin & Breeding History: 'Gewurztraminer RJ' originated as a natural mutation of 'Gewurztraminer CL 47' discovered in 1991 by Ronald Juneau at his research site in the county of Portneuf, Quebec. The first observations of the mutation were observed during the first fruit harvest from a cutting of 'Gewurztraminer CL 47' in 1996. Similar observations were confirmed again, in 1998, during the second fruit harvest. 'Gewurztraminer RJ' was selected in 2014 based on plant vigour, flower size, ability to flower under short-day conditions, the reliability of propagation by cuttings, as well as for its winemaking characteristics.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Gewurztraminer RJ' was conducted during the growing season of 2022 in the county of Portneuf, Quebec. The trial was planted in 2015 and consisted of a single row of eight 'Gewurztraminer RJ' vines grown adjacent to a single row of ten 'Somerset' vines. All vines were spaced 1.8 metres apart between the rows and 1.4 metres apart between individual plants. These vines have produced berries since 2019. Observations and measurements were taken from 8 plants, or 10 parts of plants, of 'Gewurztraminer RJ' and 10 plants, or 10 parts of plants, of 'Somerset'.

Click on image for larger view

Grapevine: 'Gewurztraminer RJ' (left) with reference variety 'Somerset' (right)

Click on image for larger view

Grapevine: 'Gewurztraminer RJ' (left) with reference variety 'Somerset' (right)