Vitis vinifera Roi des Précoces - Grape Vine

The vine or Vitis vinifera 'Roi des Précoces' is a collectible grape variety, an ancient French variety that has become rare and can now only be found in the gardens of a few passionate enthusiasts. This table grape produces small clusters, more or less compact, composed of small oval fruits that turn black-blue when ripe, with thick skin and pleasantly fleshy pulp, revealing a simple and very sweet flavour, to be enjoyed as they are. It is a particularly early variety, with harvest starting as early as July in the South and August in the North of tcontinental Europe.

The wine grape (Vitis vinifera) grew in the wild over 5000 years ago. Its introduction to France for cultivation was done by the Romans. Many hybrids were created to vary colours, flavours, and uses. The 'Roi des Précoces' grape (also known as 'Précoce Noir de Verrier') is a very old variety resulting from cross-breeding between the 'Cinsaut' and 'Pinot Noir' grape varieties.

A sarmentous climbing bush of medium vigour, the 'Roi des Précoces' vine can easily reach a height or spread of 4-5 metres (13-16 feet) if not pruned. Its final shape will depend on the pruning practised. It is a frugal, hardy, and undemanding sun-loving plant that prefers even clayey and stony soil, with a tendency to be limestone-rich, even dry in summer. Its long stems cling to their support (trellis, espalier, etc.) with the help of large green and voluble tendrils. Its foliage, with serrated edges, is a deep green in summer and turns into beautiful gold in autumn. Flowering occurs in May, more or less early depending on the year and region, offering very small greenish flowers gathered in short pyramidal and cylindrical clusters, around 10-12 cm (4-5in) long, more or less compact. Its small oval grapes, less than 1 cm (0in) in diameter, have a fairly thick skin covered with bloom, turning black-blue when fully ripe. The flesh is moderately abundant and very sweet.

The 'Roi des Précoces' grapes can be consumed fresh, as dessert, in pies, or as fruit juice. They can also be used for ornamental purposes, such as decorating an arbor, pergola, or training against a sunny wall.