Vitis vinifera Cardinal - Grape vine

The 'Cardinal' vine is a very vigorous variety. It produces large clusters, often loose and flexible. The berries are large, measuring 2 to 2.5 cm (1in) in diameter, and spherical. Their skin is moderately thick, ranging from pinkish-red to dark red, sometimes even violet. The pulp is firm, fleshy, and slightly fibrous. Harvest takes place in mid-September. The 'Cardinal' vine is quite susceptible to diseases.

The wine grape vine (Vitis vinifera) grew wild over 5000 years ago. Its introduction to France for cultivation was done by the Romans. Numerous hybrids have been created to vary colours, flavours, and uses. The 'Cardinal' vine is a variety selected by Elmer Snyder and Frank Harmon in 1939 in California (USA). It is the result of a cross-breeding: 'Vine Reinette' x 'Alphonse Lavallée'. It was introduced to France in 1946.

A vigorous climbing shrub, the 'Cardinal' vine can reach up to 5 m (16ft) in height. It is easy to train. Its final shape will depend on the pruning practised. Due to its horizontal habit, it is preferable to train it on wire and to trellis it well. Short pruning is recommended. It thrives in sunny locations and good soils that do not dry out too much during the summer. Its foliage is deeply cut, with a deep green colour in summer, and turns into the most beautiful gold in autumn. Its flowering in clusters occurs in May, offering tiny white-pink flowers. Its table grapes, in long clusters, ripen in mid-September, depending on the region. The berries are large, measuring 2 to 2.5 cm (1in) in diameter, and spherical. Their skin is moderately thick, ranging from pinkish-red to dark red, sometimes even violet. The pulp is firm, fleshy, and slightly fibrous.

Grapes are consumed as table fruit, fresh, but also in jam, jelly, fruit juice, pastries, and of course, after vinification, as wine.