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  • Writer's pictureApu Winery

Fercal Rootstock in Apu's Vineyards

Updated: May 22, 2021

Grape rootstocks provide resistance to diseases and pests, promote a more extensive root system and improve tolerance of calcareous soils (Perry and Sabbatini). Because of their indispensable influence on the future success of vines, we carefully select rootstocks that will best adapt to our vineyards.


The great majority of the vines we imported from France were grafted with the Fercal rootstock. Genetic analysis showed this variety is a cross between Berlandieri Colombard #1 B and 31 Richter, as seen below:



In addition to being one of the most adequate for limestone soils, the Fercal rootstock is also resistant to chlorosis, downy mildew and anthracnosis. It moderately protects against gallicolae phylloxera and has a very high tolerance to radicicolae phylloxera.


We don't know of any availability of the Fercal rootstock in South America; the majority of grapevines with this graft are located in France. Planted over an estimated surface area of 30,000 hectares, vines with this graft are found in Champagne, Aquitaine, Charentes, Alsace, Midi-Pyrénées, Val de Loire, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Languedoc-Roussillon and Rhône-Alpes (Barbe).


We believe that with the Fercal variety, our new grapevines will thrive in our limestone soils. Selecting the best rootstocks, tending to each and every vine, hand picking the best grapes- all are part of the meticulous viticultural process at our winery.




Sources:


Julien, Barbe. “Catalogue of Vines Grown in France.” Plant Grape, plantgrape.plantnet-project.org/en/porte-greffe/Fercal.



Perry, Ron, and Paolo Sabbatini. “Grape Rootstocks for Michigan.” MSU Extension, www.canr.msu.edu/grapes/viticulture/grape-rootstocks-for-michigan.

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