Vitis vinifera Venus - Grape Vine

The Venus vine is a variety of dessert grape of American origin, useful for its good resistance to the usual vine diseases. It is of medium vigour and can climb up to 3m (10ft) when trained on a trellis. From August, it produces fairly large black, seedless, very sweet grapes, delicious fresh or as fruit juice. Venus is resistant to cold and will grow in any ordinary, well-drained, neutral to moderately chalky soil, in a sunny position.

The grape vine (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 climber growing in the edge of forests and capable of reaching great heights in trees. The current varieties are related to the subspecies vinifera (although there are other cultivated species, but very few). 

"Venus" is a dessert grape vine of American origin. It is an interspecific hybrid, carrying genes from Vitis vinifera, the "classic" grape, and Vitis labrusca, an American botanical species, known as the Fox Grape, with musky grape. This cross (Alden x New York 46000) was obtained by Jim N. Moore as part of a vine hybridisation program at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville in the mid-1960s. Surprisingly, this program produced several varieties with names of planets (Mars, Jupiter, Neptune...).
The result of this cross is a variety with many advantages. The first is its good resistance to the usual vine diseases, which limits the need for treatment. The second is the absence of seeds in the berries, although in some years, especially under stress, a few soft seeds may form, but they can be eaten. Finally, and most importantly, it produces delicious grapes!
This vine is of medium vigour and can grow up to 3m (10ft) tall on a support such as a trellis or arbour. In June, the green-yellow flowering of this self-fertile variety then develops into long clusters of black (dark purple) grapes, quite large, especially for a seedless variety, occasionally with thick skin. It is an early variety, ripening as early as August. These fleshy berries are very sweet, with a muscat and musky taste. They are excellent raw or as juice.

The Venus grape is easy to grow, especially as it is highly resistant to various vine diseases such as mildew, powdery mildew, and botrytis. In general, grapes are rich in B vitamins and a source of fibre and manganese, well-supplied with antioxidants. They are also believed to play a role in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, and above all, they are a healthy, natural, and delicious dessert. To enjoy different flavours, plant a white grape variety like Perlette alongside it, with a muscat taste and also virtually seedless. And why not a raspberry, preferably a perpetual one, like Marastar, to prepare delicious fruit salads in summer.