Vitis vinifera Perle de Csaba - Grape Vine

The 'Perle de Csaba' vine is an ancient grape variety, originally from Hungary, with exceptionally early ripeness. It produces bunches of small, round, amber-yellow grapes with thin and powdery skin, whose juicy flesh has a pleasant, sweet and slightly musky flavour. The harvest, which is very early, takes place in August, sometimes even in July depending on the climate and the year. This table grape has medium vigour and is quite susceptible to powdery mildew and rather sensitive to cold. It is preferably grown in a sunny location sheltered from the wind, such as against a wall.

The wine grape, in Latin Vitis vinifera, grew wild more than 5000 years ago. It was introduced to France for cultivation by the Romans. Many hybrids have been created to vary colours, flavours and uses. The 'Perle de Csaba' vine is said to originate from Hungary, created in the early 20th century through a cross-breeding between the 'Madeleine Angevine' and the 'Muscat orange blossom'. It is listed in the Official Catalogue of vine varieties.

The 'Perle de Csaba' vine is a vigorous, climbing, sarmentous bush, easily reaching 4-5 m (13-16ft) in height or spread if not pruned. Its final shape will depend on the pruning practised. The 'Perle de Csaba' vine is a frugal sun-loving plant, not very demanding, which even prefers a soil that is both clayey and stony, well-drained. Its long stems cling to their support (trellis, espalier) by means of large green and voluble tendrils. Its foliage, with a serrated edge, is a deep green in summer and turns the most beautiful gold in autumn. Its flowering occurs in April-May depending on the year and the region, offering very small white flowers grouped in short and moderately compact pyramidal and cylindrical clusters. Its small round grapes have a thin skin covered with bloom, and turn complete amber-yellow at ripeness. They reveal a sweet and juicy flesh with a delicate and slightly musky aroma, which will be highly appreciated as a table grape or in fruit salads.

You can use the 'Perle de Csaba' vine to decorate a pergola, a trellis or against a sunny wall, where it will look beautiful from spring to autumn!