Vitis vinifera Lakemont - Grape vine

The 'Lakemont' grape is a variety of medium vigour, limiting its growth to 2.50m (8ft) in height, and can be trained on a trellis or arbor. This variety provides a sweet, seedless, golden yellow table grape, good for harvesting from mid-September. The clusters are medium to large and bear medium-sized berries. It is one of the most disease-resistant varieties, including the dreaded mildew. Resistant to cold, this variety is particularly interesting for grape enthusiasts. This vine will thrive in most neutral to limestone soils, well-drained in sunny exposure, as it appreciates the heat.

The wine grape (Vitis vinifera) grew wild over 5000 years ago in North and Central America, Europe, and Central and Eastern Asia. The subspecies sylvestris still exists, it is a climbing vine, growing on the edge of forests and capable of reaching great heights in trees. Its introduction to France for cultivation was done by the Phocaeans in Provence, around 600 BC. The current varieties, known as grape varieties, are related to the subspecies vinifera (although there are other cultivated species, but very few). Economically, wine grapes dominate table grapes, with over 200 authorised grape varieties in France, the result of centuries of selection work.

'Lakemont' is the result of a crossbreeding carried out in 1972 by the American John Einset at the experimental and vine selection station in Geneva, United States (state of New York). Its parents are 'Ontario' (a white grape variety resulting from the crossbreeding between 'Winchell' and 'Diamond' in 1908) and 'Sultanina', a historic variety from Persia (present-day Iran) and widely consumed as raisins. It is a table grape variety, but it can also be used for winemaking. A sarmentous climbing shrub of medium vigour, the 'Lakemont' vine has a semi-erect habit and limited growth to 2.5m (8ft) in height with an equivalent spread if not pruned. It needs to be trained with long pruning and trained on a trellis or arbor. Its foliage consists of large, vibrant green leaves. The herbaceous branches bear tendrils that allow the plant to cling to the support provided. Its flowering occurs in June, or even July depending on the year and region, offering very small greenish flowers gathered in medium to large, cylindrical, and fairly long clusters. Like most grapes, it is self-fertile.

The berries, initially green-yellow in colour, turn golden yellow when ripe, and may even evolve towards amber brown, with a fine whitish bloom on the surface. The juicy flesh is very sweet, with an aftertaste reminiscent of honey or muscat. These grapes have the additional advantage of not forming seeds. It is useful to perform green pruning to remove certain leaves so that the grapes are well exposed to the sun and can acquire this beautiful golden colour, a sign of their ripeness. Very hardy (up to -20°C (-4°F), or even -25°C (-13°F)), this vine grows in full sun, as it particularly appreciates warm exposures. It thrives in neutral to limestone soil, or slightly acidic, well-drained soils. An ordinary, even rocky soil is sufficient, as long as it is not too dry. Too rich soil or excessive fertilisation will benefit the vegetation more than the fruits. Simply apply organic fertiliser after harvest for the plant's winter storage. Your vine will use it to start well in the following spring.

'Lakemont' grapes can be consumed as table grapes or in juice, for example in a vitamin-packed fruit cocktail for breakfast. In general, grapes are rich in B vitamins, a source of dietary fibre and manganese, and well-endowed with antioxidants. They are also believed to play a role in preventing cardiovascular diseases, and above all, they are a healthy, natural, and delicious dessert. The limited development of 'Lakemont' makes it easy to train on a trellis. To vary the pleasures, you can plant a thornless blackberry like the Loganberry nearby, a climbing variety with similar growth, which will give you large sweet and tart fruits from August to October.