Food Chemistry

20.2 Wine 907

Table 20.9.Wine production 1999 and 2006 (1000 t), vineyard area (1993) and wine consumption (l/capita)

Continent Production Vineyard area (1993)
1999 2006

World 27 , 944 27 , 772 82. 81

Africa 1005 1174 3. 47
America, North,
Central 2217 2282 7. 93
America, South 2077 3046
Asia 1250 1908 13. 85
Europe 20 , 593 17 , 850 56. 86
Oceania 802 1512 0. 7

Country Production Vineyard area (1993) Consumption

1999 2006 (1971) (1993) (1997)

France 5806 5349 9. 42 107 64 54
Italy 6265 4712 9. 81 111 61 60
Spain 3298 3644 13. 7603938
USA 2045 2232 3. 25 5 6 –
Argentina 1255 1540 2. 05 85 48 –
Germany 1229 891 1. 06 18 23 23
South Africa 878 1013 – – – –
Australia 679 1410 0. 63 – – –
Portugal 742 3. 7915553
Romania 650 2. 51 23 55 –
China 1400
Chile 977

∑(%)a 82

aWorld production = 100%.

20.2.2 Grape Cultivars

Among the cultivated species ofVitis,themost
important is the grapevineVitis vinifera,L.ssp.
vinifera in its many forms; more than 8000
cultivars are known. The size, shape and color
of the grapes vary: there are round, elongated,
large or small grape clusters. Grapes are either
wine-type grapes, for white or red wine mak-
ing, or table grapes, which are even grown in
greenhouses in some northern countries. The
cultivars are different in sugar content and aroma.
Table 20.10 provides information about the
major grape cultivars of Germany, with some of
their characteristics. Table 20.11 shows the share
of the major cultivars in vine growing areas.
Table 20.12 gives data on the grape cultivars of
some other countries. The EuropeanV. vinifera
and the American vines (V. labrusca)have
been crossed in order to produce pest-resistant

forms (hybrids, “direct producers”), giving

plants with pest resistance and good quality

must production, although the hybrids still leave

much to be desired. The wines are considered

rather ordinary, with less character and a more

obtrusive flavor than the parent plants. Grape

cultivars providing top quality white wines

are:

• Riesling– native to Germany; a hardy culti-
  var grown in the Pfalz (Rhine Palatinate) and
  along the Mosel (Moselle), Rhine and Nahe
  rivers.


• Traminer– cultivated extensively in Alsace,
  Baden and Pfalz, and in Austria.


• Rulaender(grey burgundy, Pinot gris) – from
  Alsace and Burgundy regions in the Kaiser-
  stuhl district, and from Hungary.


• Kerner – an early ripening cultivar, which
  comes close to the balance of Riesling.