CHERGVALI

Chergvali is a Megrelian word which means ‘white round.’ By agricultural value, it belongs to the table vine variety; however, its production can be used for original wines of local use. 

A brief description of Chergvali is given by acad. Iv. Javakhishvili (7) and Er. Nakashidze (10). According to Prof. S. Cholokashvili, Chergvali is classified as a representative of the table wines group of Samegrelo. 

Before the spreading of fungal diseases and phylloxera, Chergvali was cultivated as high vineyards in the mountainous villages of Samegrelo (in the villages of Fotskho, Ushafati, Tamakoni, Salkhino, Tsalenjikha and so on), but not widely. Local residents used it mostly as a consumption grape or sometimes for making wine. 

Chergvali was explored in the village of Salkhino, Gegechkori district. After long observation, it is indicated that Chergvali, with its morphological and biological features, belongs to the grapevine varieties group of Black Sea, Prol.pontica subprol. Georgica Negr. (11), as it is characterized by a long vegetation period and late ripening of the grape - signs of adaptation to the ecological conditions of Samegrelo. The strength of the vine’s growth, leaf thickness and intensiveness of coating, shoot coating, flower type, structure of bunch and grain, thickness of the skin and seed are also reasons for the genuine Megrelian name ''Chergvali,'' and further evidence of its indigenous nature. 

In Georgia, many vine varieties have been given names expressing the grape's shape; being indigenous, they are collected in certain endemic groups, for example, Mrgvalkurdzena [round-grape] (in Kakheti), ''Tita Grape''[finger-grape] (in Kakheti and Kartli),'Tskheniszuzu''[horse-breast] (in Kakheti, Meskheti, Adjara, Abkhazia), ''Che-chifeshi'' [small-white] (in Samegrelo) and so on. Chergvali is distinguished from these varieties by its ampelographical traits and agricultural value, and represents an independent vine variety. 

In existing literature sources, Chergvali, outside of Georgia, is not mentioned, and even in Georgia its distribution area is limited to the Samegrelo territory. 

Currently, the high vineyards of Chergvali are nearly all destroyed and only a few single roots remain in some villages of Samegrelo (in Fotskho, Ushafati, Salkhino, and Tamakoni). The growth and development of the vines are problematic, and due to fungal diseases the quality of its production is also low. In more suitable climatic conditions, Chergvali has quite a good harvest, having full bunches with large, beautiful berries of pleasant taste. The low vineyards can be found in the village of Salkhino (Gegechkori district), where the vines are properly cultivated, nurtured and give quite large and qualitative production. 

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 

Chergvali is described in the village of Salkhino (Gegechkori district) where the vines are grafted on Riparia X Rupestri 3306 and are formed low. 

The young shoot. The cone of growth is bright reddish and quite thickly covered with whitish hairy down. The petiole is bright green, round and covered with whitish-gray bumps. 

The one year sprout. The one year sprout is round and middle in thickness, is reddish-brown; the axils are darker, distanced 8 - 13cm from each other. 

The leaf. The mature leaf is middle sized and oval, about 16.7cm long and 15.8cm wide. 

The incision of the leaf's petiole is mostly lyre-like, consisting of three veins and a rounded basis; narrow-elliptical and open or slightly closed incisions can also be found. 

The upper incision is open with the shape of an egg, roundish or having sharp basis. 

The lower incision is quite deep, rarely like an open hole. 

The leaf is three or rarely five-lobed, the edge of the tip creates an obscure angle to the blade, rarely – right. 

The teeth are triangular, with convex margins and sharpened or roundish tips, sometimes saw-like. The secondary teeth are similar to the major teeth in appearance. 

The underside of the leaf is covered with a thick felt-like coating; and grayish down. The upper surface is wrinkled. The surface of the blade is smooth. The major veins are lightly covered and are bright green, near to the basis becoming violet. 

The proportion of the petiole to the major vein equals 0.6 - 0.9; the petiole is bare and greenish-red. 

The flower. The flower is hermaphroditic with normally developed pistil and stamens. In a flower there are 5 stamens, rarely – 4 or 6. In a flower-inflorescence there are 130 - 140 flowers. 

The bunch. The length of a bunch petiole is about 4 - 5cm long. Bunches are 11 - 16cm long and 6.5 - 10cm wide. A bunch is made up of 35 to 60 berries. The shape of the bunch is cylindrical or cone-cylindrical, is branch-like and quite dense. The petiole and shoot are grass-like, with a dark green coloring. 

The grain. The length of the petiole together with the pedicel equals 7 - 9mm. Both are green in color, with the pedicel being wrinkled and similar to a wide cone; the berry is tightly connected to it. 

Grains are bright green, quite large and round; about 16.5 - 22mm long and 16.2 - 21.5mm wide, becoming wider in the middle, and with rounded and symmetrical ends. The skin is thick, quite fleshy, juicy and sweet, the skin is slightly covered with wax.

The seed. Each berry contains 1-3 seeds, mostly one. In every 100 berries there are 140 - 145 seeds, with the length being 6.5 - 7mm and width – 3 - 3.5mm. Seeds are brown in color. The basis is quite rounded, to the rear, smooth. The length of the tip is 1.5 - 2mm.

AGRO-BIOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION

Observation of the biological phases and agro-biological characteristics of Chergvali was carried out in the village of Salkhino (Gegechkori District).

In this zone, the awakening of Chergvali begins from the end of March and budding – in the first half of April; and the blossom of the vine starts from 5-6 June and comes to an end around the 17-18 June, if the weather is suitable. The ripening of the grape begins from the end of September, while mass ripening from the end of October. Leaf-fall begins from mid-November and ends in the first half of December. Therefore, Chergvali can be considered as a late grapevine variety by its vegetation. 

The growth of the vine. Chergvali belongs with intermediate or stronger vines by its development. By the end of the vegetation period, low formations of Chergvali generate about 2 - 2.5m long sprouts, colored with a characteristic shade. In the same zone, high vineyards of Chergvali are less well growing because of their not being properly cultivated and due to the influence of downy mildew, powdery mildew and phylloxera. In this situation, only basal parts of the vine come to maturity, with the other parts remaining under-mature and receiving mass damage from winter frosts.

The productivity. As mentioned, the cultivation of high vineyards of Chergvali is connected to technical difficulties; the pruning of basic bunches and dry parts of the vine is carried out only once every 3-4 years. This results in a great variation in productivity, depending also on the weather conditions. The low vineyards of Chergvali are characterized with normal growth and development as well as a regular high quality and quantitative harvest.

The first signs of harvest appear on the vine from the second year, but mostly from the third, while it becomes completely productive from the fourth and fifth years. The low vineyard of Chergvali that is formed according to Georgian rule, and loaded with 10 - 12 buds, provides productivity that is 2 - 2.5 kg per vine. The coefficient of harvest equals 1.4. Therefore, Chergvali belongs to the intermediate varieties in growth and development. In is doubtless that in case of larger loading, the harvest will grow.

For this reason free formation should be used by loading with 30 - 32buds.

In Western Georgia, this method has shown positive results in relation to strongly growing varieties. The vines need to be dedicated higher forms in order to maintain better aeration and access to the sun’s rays. 

AGRO-TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Observation of Chergvali was conducted in the village of Salkhino (Gegechkori district) and indicates that Chergvali should be considered mostly as a table grape variety, but can also be used for wine.

The weight of a large bunch equals 192.5g, while a small – 85g, while a medium bunch weighs 135.5g. A middle sized bunch consists of 94.7% berries, 5.1% shoot, 17.0% skin, 5.2% seeds, while the outcome of juice comes to 71.5%.

The average weight of 100 berries is 178.3g. 100 berries contain of 140-145 seeds weighing 6.0g, out of which 41% have one seed, 36% - two, and 23% three.

In the Salkhino zone, the grape at the time of total maturity consists of 18-19% sugar, and 8.5 - 9.1 general acidity.

GENERAL EVALUATION AND DISTRIBUTION BY DISTRICT

By industrial value, Chergvali should be considered as one of the prospective table wine varieties for Samegrelo, as is has adapted to its ecological conditions and become domesticated over centuries. In addition, it is characterized by strong development, quite good quality and quantitative harvest, and what is essential; it has beautiful, finely structured bunches and large, full and beautifully colored berries. 

The grape of Chergvali is quite transportable and, when left on the vine, can keep to the end of December and, after picking, is able to be kept during the whole winter.

Its production can also be used for the making of original wines of local use. 

In the future, Chergvali will have to be cultivated in Samegrelo only for table grape, especially in the mountainous zones, as low vineyards, grafted on phylloxera-resistant rootstocks.