USAKHELOURI

Usakhelouri is a local red grapevine variety distributed in Tsageri district, mostly in Zubiokureshi, and used for high quality naturally semi-sweet and red table wine production. 

Among the native viticulturists, mostly in Ambrolauri and Oni districts, Usakhelouri is known also by the name Okureshuli. 

Usakhelouri originated from a local family of domesticated grapevine varieties. With its morphological and agricultural characteristics is close to the native varieties and, together with them, belongs to the ecological-geographical group of Prol. pontica sub-prol. Georgica Negr. It is different from them mostly by the covering of leaf and also by the lateness of the first harvesting period. 

The written historical recordings about its origin are unavailable, but its exclusive location in Tsageri; its being well suited and adapted to the climate and soil conditions; and the fact that its name is taken from one of the villages, are clear evidence underlining Usakhelouri’s local origin. Some botanical and biological properties – interlacing growing, relatively long and thick shoot, regular bright brown incision of the petiole, thin web-like covering, middle sized bunches, quite small berries, inequality in berries size and ripening -give us reason to believe in its similarity to wild vines, and that Usakhelouri must have been taken from the forest and then domesticated in the recent past. According to native residents, Usakhelouri was transmitted from the village Usakhelo and then spread in Lechkhumi. These opinions are also proved by our honorable scientist acad. Iv Javakhishvili (7) who underlined that Usakhelouri took its name from the village Usakhelouri which was situated on the right bank of the river Lakanuri in Lechkhumi. 

Usakhelouri was and is cultivated only in Lechkhumi. 

From 1940 data, Usakhelouri was dedicated, in total, 17.16 ha, out of which 55.4 ha is in Tsageri and Ambrolauri districts, 3.42 ha in Imereti, Kutaisi and Tsulukidze districts, while 1.45 ha is dedicated in other districts of Georgia. In Tsageri, it is distributed only in particular villages – in the southern part, in the surrounding villages of the right and left banks of the river Tskhenistskali, mostly in Okureshi, Ofitara, then in Lachefita, Zubi and Isundiri. 

In addition to Lechkhumi some representatives of Usakhelouri can be found in the experimental and collective vineyards of the Institute of Viticulture and Enology, such as in Imereti, Kartli and Kakheti, basically for study and investigation reasons. 

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 

Usakhelouri has been described in the collective vineyard of the village Zubi that is situated in a slightly sloping area. The soil is sub-clay, stony, consisting of a significant amount of calcium-carbonate, while the sub-soil is constructed of limestone. The vineyards are formed according to Georgian rule: with parallel hangers, grafted on its own rootstock and is about 35 years old. Further investigation was done in the Collective Vineyard of the Institute of Viticulture and Enology in Telavi. 

The young shoot. The crown of the young shoot (15 - 20cm long) and the first two leaf bracts are covered with thin web-like hairs, more intensive on the underside, and are greenish grey, with bright pink lines around the crown and leaf bracts. The leaves of the second row (the second and fourth leaves) on the upper surface lose their covering and become yellowish green with a bronze hue while the underside surface remains covered like a web and grayish green colored, which reduces in the following leaves. The tip of young shoots is covered; to the underside it is bright green with wine-colored lines. 

The one year sprout. A completely developed sprout is bright brown in the autumn and the space between the axils is darker, with well depicted lines. The length between the knees is about 7 - 10cm, often – 3cm 

The leaf. The leaves of the middle row are characterized by being a medium or smaller side (15x14cm), green, roundish, more often wide- oval. They are mostly three-lobed, rarely five, or can be found also without lobes. The middle lobe creates an obtuse angle, rarely – right. The blade is thin and smooth, wrinkled like a net, rarely with small blisters. The edges of the leaf curl. The major vein of the leaf is bright green and slightly covered with web-like hairs. The upper incision is not deep and is often superficial or quite deep. The incisions are open, funnel-like with narrow throats and parallel edges, also incisions can rarely be found which resemble gaps. The basis of a incision is roundish or sharp. 

The underside incisions are quite deep and less expressed, mostly superficial or undeveloped. 

The incision of the petiole is open, like an arrow or wide arch, with sharpened or rounded basis; rarely square. The major veins of the leaf end with quite thick and well depicted teeth. The major teeth are triangular, with convex edges and sharp or slightly rounded tips, rarely can teeth be found of an arch shape. The lateral teeth are also similar in shape or convex to the one side. 

The underside of the leaf is covered with thin web, slightly noticeable rough bumps across the veins, and hairs. At first glance, the leaf seems to be smooth. The petiole of the leaf is bare, about the length of the major vein or shorter, and is reddish-wine colored with greenish lines. 

The flower. Flowers are hermaphroditic with normally developed pistil and stamens. Most commonly there are six standing stamens in a flower, rarely five or seven. The length of stamens thread to pistil is 1.25, rarely – 1.50. The knot is wrinkled, roundish and rarely cone-shaped. The column is short and ends with small two-part nose. The bunch. Bunches are medium sized, about 11 - 18cm long and 5 - 10cm wide; the average length of a bunch is 14cm, while the width – 8cm. Bunches are cylindrical-cone shaped, rarely of wide-cone or cylindrical. They often have wings, with the length being 1/3 of bunch’s length, sometimes half. Generally, bunches are dense. The pedicel of a bunch is like grass, and becomes more solid when approaching the sprout basis, taking on its coloring. This is 3 - 7cm long, the average – 4 - 5cm. At the time of full grape-ripening, the pedicel of the berry is dark red, rarely green, from 4 to 8mm with the average – 6mm. The receptacle of a pedicel has a narrow cone shape and a rugged surface. The berry is tightly connected to the pedicel.

The grain. The berry is middle sized, from 1.5 to 1.7cm long and 1.2 - 1.6cm wide, commonly 1.5cm long and 1.45cm wide. Grains are rounded, or concave, and of different sizes. The berry is symmetrical, wider in the middle, with a rounded end. The ripened berry is black, covered with thick waxy spots that make it dark violet. The skin is thin, easily detachable from the flesh. The flesh is juicy and more solid around the seeds. The juice is uncolored and has a sweet pleasant taste.

The seed. In a berry there are mostly one or two seeds, the average being two. The body of a seed is oval, narrowed near the tip, and brown, about 5 - 6mm long and 3.5 - 4mm wide, while the length of the tip is 1.2 - 1.5mm. The basis is oval and placed in the upper part of a seed, having a flat surface and, rarely, slightly concave to the inside. The major line is deep and wide, while to the tip, narrow. The inside part is bumpy, with lightly noticeable parallel lines. The tip is narrow-cone shaped, slightly curved toward the abdomen, and is bright orange.

AGRO-BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS

The vegetation period and course of phases. Observations of the vegetative period and its particular phases were conducted in Lechkhumi, Imereti, Kakheti and south Ukraine. Namely, in Tsageri district (the village of Tsageri), Zestafoni (the village of Sakare), Telavi (Telavi city) and Odessa. In Imereti, according to Sakare Experimental Station, the vegetation period of Usakhelouri from the opening of buds to full grape-ripening is defined as 165 days, while the sum of active temperatures is fixed as 3595 o, however, in Telavi the same properties were 160 days of vegetation period with 3169o being the sum of active temperatures, while in Ukraine (Odessa) – 173 days and 3460o. More significant difference has been revealed between Zestafoni and Tsageri districts. For example, in 1940 the time needed for Usakhelouri grape ripening was 181 days and the sum of active temperatures 3593o, while in Zestafoni – only 160 days and 3499o. In both cases, the number of days is determined by the influence of sediments. It is known that the more sediments there are during the vegetation period, the longer the time and higher the temperature sum for the ripening of the grape. For instance, in 1940 from the time of buds’ opening to the full ripening of the grape, the amount of sediments in Zestafoni equaled 257mm, while in Tsageri – 654mm (nearly two-and-a-half times more) causing the lengthening of the grape’s ripening period. To illustrate the particular vegetative phases of Usakhelouri, below is given data based on the observations conducted in Tsageri, Zestafoni, Odessa and Telavi. 

As Table 1 indicates, the sequence of vegetation period and its particular phases are distinct in relation to district and year. This diversity is generally caused by meteorological conditions. For example, in 1940 in Tsageri and in 1942 in Zestafoni, Usakhelouri ripened in nearly the same time period, while in 1940 in Zestafoni it ripened 25 days earlier than in Tsageri. Therefore, when cultivating new vineyards, the climate should first of all be considered, followed by the sum of active temperatures, and sediments. According to this data, Usakhelouri can be successfully cultivated in nearly all regions of Georgia, namely in Kartli, Kakheti, Meskheti, and in all districts of Western Georgia- and it should be tried in order to achieve high quality and quantitative production. The one year sprout of Usakhelouri is able to grow up to 110 - 120cm and can meet the winter frosts readily and strongly.

The growth of Usakhelouri vines is medium. According to the observation results in Lechkhumi, Imereti and Kakheti, in comparison with other local varieties, Usakhelouri is considered as being characterized with middle growth and development.

The productivity. In comparison with other native grapevine varieties, Usakhelouri provides its first and full yield later. Viticulturists from Lechkhumi observed that Usakhelouri gives its first yield from the fourth and fifth year, while from 5-6 years it gives a full harvest. Usakhelouri is a middle-harvest varieties, while in case of proper cultivation and good feeding conditions, it is far more productive. In the major district of its distribution, in the villages of Okureshi, Ofitari and others (in Tsageri district) the productivity of Usakhelouri is can be up to 50 - 70 centners per hectare, while in particular vineyards – 80 - 100 centners. In Kakheti, the observation in the Experimental Vineyard of the Institute of Viticulture and Enology displayed the middle level of Usakhelouri productivity. For example, in 1950 the productivity of Usakhelouri was from 480 to 1800g, the average 1.450g per vine.

Usakhelouri is characterized with relatively good productivity: the coefficient of its harvesting equals 0.6 - 2.0, the average – 0.8 - 1.0. The average weight of a bunch is from 40 to 120g, with the mean – 70 - 80g, while of well developed bunches it can be 200 - 250g. Thus, the yield calculated per sprout equals 80 - 100g. Such relatively low coefficient of harvesting is determined by quite a large number of unproductive shoots (15 - 20%) on the one hand and on the other hand by the sprouts low harvestability. The sprouts on a vine often consist of one bunch- 70%, while rarely, sprouts having three bunches can be found. 

The large number of unproductive sprouts on a vine is often caused by improper cutting and loading. By exploring the biological characteristics of the varieties and elaborating the relevant agricultural activities, the productivity of Usakhelouri can be increased significantly. In Lechkhumi, Usakhelouri is cultivated at a 1.5 x 1.5m feeding area and generally is cut at 2 “neki” (about 10cm) with two parallel holders. The longer cutting and other rules of forming have not been explored; it would be better to use and investigate fan-shaped or cordon forms, by loading with 28-30 buds, as well as more sophisticated and bettered cultivation, in order to increase productivity.

Durability against pests and fungal diseases. In Western Georgia (Lechkhumi and Imereti), Usakhelouri is not distinguished by a satisfying resistance to fungal diseases; rather, it is very sensitive to downy mildew and requires the conducting of all agricultural works timely, with one additional fungicide to be administered during wet years. It is quite resilient to powdery mildew. In Kakheti (Telavi district), Usakhelouri has displayed middle resistance to fungal diseases, but in wet years, it has shown significantly lower resistance than Tsolokouri, Kundza and other varieties of Imereti. It is also quite vulnerable to phylloxera and grape worm.

The relationship with rootstocks. Usakhelouri is well suited to, and can complement, different rootstocks successfully, for example with the major rootstocks of Western Georgia – Riparia X Rupestri 3309, 3306, 101/4 and Rupestri Dulo. For clay, moist, and relatively heavier soils, it is better to use 101/14 and 3306 for grafting, while for light, sub-clay soils – 3309, for dry, stony soils – Rupestri Dulo, and for limestone soils – Berlandieri X Riparia hybrids 420a or 5bb.

Response of varieties to different environmental conditions. Based on observation data, from Sakare Experimental Station, Usakhelouri has demonstrated relatively high sensitivity to spring frosts. It is not significantly affected in relation to soils, and can be successfully cultivated in nearly all types of soils, apart from soggy, swampy and podsolic soils. But it provides much more valuable and high qualitative wine when cultivated on mountain slopes in limey soils. The varieties is characterized by good knotting of berries, but quite a large amount of small berries, generally 5%, while in bad weather conditions even 15-20%. 

AGRO-TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

By the appearance of bunches, mechanical structure and chemical characteristics of its juice, Usakhelouri belongs to a purely wine varieties, providing high quality naturally semi-sweet and table red wines.

Mechanical structure of bunch. To illustrate the mechanical constitution of the grape, below are given the results of the 1940, 1942, 1953 analysis conducted at Sakare Experimental Station (V. Demetradze and V. Kintsurashvili) (see Table 2),

As Table 2 indicates, in laboratory conditions, the outcome of the Usakhelouri grape equals from 72% to 77%, while in industrial conditions much lower- to 74 - 75%.

Chemical structure of juice. Usakhelouri in all districts, in Lechkhumi, Imereti, Kakheti and southern Ukraine, is able to accumulate a large amount of sugar and high acidity. For example, in Imereti when the autumn is dry, it freely accumulates 25 - 26% sugar, while the average of several years equals 22%. In Kakheti, in the Collective Vineyard of the Institute of Viticulture and Enology of Telavi, the sugar concentration in the Usakhelouri grape is quite high and, in some years, comes to 24%, while in southern Ukraine (Odessa) it consisted of 23% sugar in 1950. Below is given data illustrating the sugar and acidity consistency in the Usakhelouri grape in different years (see Table 3).

To characterize the sequence of the grape ripening, below is given data based on the observations provided in Sakare Experimental Station, Tsageri, and Zestafoni (see Table 4).

As Table 4 indicates, Usakhelouri is distinguished by quite a high level of sugar and acidity. Such good proportion of sugar and acidity determines the production of qualitative wine from the Usakhelouri grape.

Its ability to maintain this capacity and nature across the districts, in different climatic and soil conditions, should be noted.

The grape of Usakhelouri is generally applied in naturally semi-sweet red wine production, rarely for table red wine. The wine of Usakhelouri is very valuable in quality, color, aroma, and taste.

Especially prized is naturally semi-sweet wine made in its major district of cultivation, Tsageri, in the villages along the river Tskhenistskali, namely in Zubi, Okureshi, Isunderi, Ofitara, Makhura, Lachefita and Ladzgveri. The viticulture of Lechkhumi was awarded its fame because of Usakhelouri. The red wine of Lechkhumi, known as “Mandaria Wine”, was very famous in villages of the Kutaisi and Tsulukidze districts and was considered the best, no less depreciated than the famous wine Khvanchkara.

In Lechkhumi, Usakhelouri wine is prepared in the following way: picked grape is placed in a winepress of wood and is pressed, and then the juice is poured into pitchers and, after one night, is returned to the winepress again to ferment together with pomace. In recent times, pressing machines are also often used. The winepress is generally open or rarely closed when containing this masse of grape juice (wine material) during 8-10 days. In this period, it should be stirred two or three times a day. After the strong reactions of fermenting have finished, the wine is taken into clean pitchers, which are tightly sealed. The remaining material is kept for making spirit.

In Lechkhumi, the harvest of Usakhelouri commonly begins from the second half of October, continues for two weeks and ends at the end of October. This period varies according to different meteorological conditions. For making naturally semi-sweet wine Usakhelouri should be picked when consisting of 23 - 26% sugar and 6.0 - 8% acidity, while for table red wine – 20 - 22% with 20 - 22% sugar and 8 - 9% acidity.

The grape picked at this time makes high quality naturally semi-sweet and dry table wine. The naturally semi-sweet wine is characterized with beautiful ruby or pomegranate coloring, original aroma, pleasant sweet and harmony. The table wine is dark purple having the aroma of a fruit and a completely harmonious taste.

Usakhelouri wine keeps its quality and character across the different districts of Georgia. In Imereti, in Sakare Experimental Station, Usakhelouri wine is characterized by good coloring, energy, body, cheerfulness, and a pleasant taste. Such high quality and valuable wine is produced also in Kakheti.

As we have noted above, Usakhelouri is used for making naturally semi-sweet and table wine; in other branches of enology it has not yet been investigated. As the juice of the Usakhelouri grape is very rich in chemical composition, it should be tried in dessert wine production. To illustrate the chemical composition of Usakhelouri wine, below are given the results of the chemical analysis (see Table 5)

As Table 5 indicates, the wine of Usakheloris is quite rich in structure, characterized by a high level of alcohol; in some samples – 13 - 14 o, which is obvious evidence of its capacity to be engaged in dessert type wine production.

The variation and clones. The work concerning the discovery of different forms and clones of Usakhelouri has not been done as yet, therefore the variations of Usakhelouri are not known.  

GENERAL EVALUATION AND DISTRIBUTION BY DISTRICT 

Usakhelouri belongs to the middle period varieties of ripening. It provides naturally semi-sweet and dry table red wines and is also useful for dessert type table red wine. It is distributed in Lechkhumi – in the micro-districts of Zubo-Okureshi and Ofitara- Makhura where the entire scope dedicated to Usakhelouri equals 60.3ha, and is presented mostly as pure plantations of only this varieties, while in Racha-Lechkhumi it can be found together with other varieties. 

Among the negative properties of Usakhelouri, low resistance against fungal diseases and late harvesting should be noted. The productivity of Usakhelouri can be increased and improved by using advanced agro-technical means and activities. The varieties is included in the standard assortment of vine varieties and is set to be distributed more widely, in the districts of Imereti, Racha, and Kakheti, to make naturally semi-sweet wine. 

It can be recommended for wider cultivation in the southern viticulture districts of the Soviet Union (Ukraine, Crimea, Moldova, and Krasnodar area).