Vitis vinifera Royal Madeleine - Grape vine

The 'Madeleine Royale' vine (also known as Madeleine Imperiale or Plant of the Corporal) is an ancient vine variety obtained in the Angers region by the Moreau-Robert nursery in 1845. It is a table variety, with white grapes, rather early, appreciated for the taste of its fruits, but probably hindered by the fragility of its clusters during transportation. However, the enthusiast will taste the exquisite flavour of its sweet flesh, often enhanced with a delicately musky aroma at full ripeness, and will delight in its soft, melting and juicy pulp. With a moderately vigorous growth, a little frost-sensitive but very fertile, this vine adapts well to trellis cultivation on the terrace, where it will benefit from the relative shelter of the house. Harvesting begins in August-September, 8 to 15 days before that of the Chasselas.

The wine vine (Vitis vinifera) grew wild more than 5000 years ago. Its introduction in France for cultivation was done by the Romans. Many hybrids were created to vary colours, flavours and uses. The 'Madeleine Royale' grapevine is the result of a cross-breeding between the 'Frankenthal noir' and 'Pinot blanc' grape varieties. This vine is susceptible to mildew, powdery mildew, as well as winter frosts, and very sensitive to grey rot. Its vegetation starts early in spring, like that of the Chasselas vine. It will be pruned more or less short in March.

A sarmentous climbing bush with moderate vigour, the 'Madeleine Royale' vine-plant can easily reach 4-5 m (13-16ft) in height or spread if not pruned. Its final shape will depend on the pruning practiced. It is a frugal sun-loving plant, not very demanding, which even prefers a soil that is both clayey and stony, with a tendency to be chalky, but can be sensitive to prolonged drought. Its long stems attach themselves to their support (trellis, espalier) through large green and voluble tendrils. Its foliage is a deep green in summer and turns the most beautiful gold in autumn. Its flowering occurs in May-June depending on the year and the region, offering very small greenish flowers gathered in rather short and tightly packed conical and cylindrical clusters. Its round to elliptical grapes of medium size (1.3 cm (1in)) have a fairly thin skin, prone to bursting, with a pale yellowish-white colour sprinkled with small grey dots at full ripeness. Their pulp is very juicy, pleasantly sweet, with a slightly aromatic flavour, and quite rich in seeds. The berries, carried by a slender peduncle, detach easily from the cluster. Ripeness: last week of July in the Avignon region, August 15-25 in our cooler and less sunny regions.

The 'Madeleine Royale' table grape can be consumed fresh or as juice, for example in a vitamin-packed fruit cocktail for breakfast. You can use it to decorate a pergola, a trellis or train it against a very sunny wall sheltered from cold winds.