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Red grapes

Alvarinho

	Ampelographic Characteristics Fonte: Catálogo das Castas, IVV.
	Grape characteristics
Name	Alvarinho
Type of grape variety	White
Description	Alvarinho is one of the most remarkable Portuguese white grape varieties. It is very ancient and of low production, being mostly grown in Monção and Melgaço (Vinhos Verdes region). It may have two distinct shapes: small, not very compact bunch and small, golden berries; or medium-sized bunch with bigger berries that keep their green colour when ripened. This grape variety is responsible for the success of the first “monovarietal” Portuguese wines (single grape variety). In Portugal, blend wines (mixture of several grape varieties) are more common. Alvarinho produces very aromatic wines, with high alcohol content and well balanced acidity.

Budding	open, very cottony, white and with the margins strongly carmine.
Young leaf	yellow with brown spots; margins of the blade folded down, cottony on the down side of the blade and pubescent on the upper side of the blade.
Flower	androgynous.
Shoots	red internodes and nodes on the back side and green on the frontal side; strong anthocyanin pigmentation of the buds; horizontal growth.
Tendrils	descontinuous, short, pubescent and straight.
Adult leaf	small size, orbicular, entire, margins of the blade slightly folded down, medium green and slightly bubby; short convex teeth; open petiolar sinus with a V shaped base and open upper lateral sinus in V; cottony on the down side; pubescent petiole longer than the medium main vein.
Bunch	small, winged and frequently double due to the wings development; medium compactness; long peduncle and medium lignification.
Berry	medium size, irregular; round, sometimes slightly flattened; yellow green colour, slightly rosy when too much exposed to the sun; with bloom, medium thick skin an apparent hilum; soft, juicy pulp with a special flavour; medium long pedicel of easy separation.
Seeds	little hard tegument, predominantly one per berry; medium size, pyriform, short and pronounced beak.
Stalks	flattened cross-section, character transmittable to the grape veriety bud, striated surface, yellow brownish colour; large extension; long internodes; medium long, cup-shaped and little prominent buds.