The National Viticulture Institute (INV) included four new varieties of grapes, which were developed by researchers from the National Institute of Technology (INTA) in Mendoza, in the official table grapes and grapes for wines catalog.
The new varieties are two pink varieties and two black ones: Fernandina INTA, Surprise INTA, Delicia INTA, and Serena INTA. These varieties will be added to a list integrated, among others, by Malbec grapes, Muscatel or Creole grapes.
INTA presented the new varieties a few months ago and has now incorporated them by means of a resolution published in the Official Gazette.
The INV included the Delicia INTA and the Serena INTA varieties in the Category 2, i.e. Table Grape Varieties, within the pink varieties. The Fernandina INTA and Surprise INTA varieties were also included in the catalogue, but with the other black table grapes.
According to the INV, "the Fernandina INTA and Sorpresa INTA varieties produce black grapes, which is an innovation for Argentina as the country doesn't export any black varieties so far."
Regarding the pink varieties, they state "the Serena INTA is red, just like the Crimson variety, but it stands out for having an earlier harvest date."
The Delicia INTA is pink and has a muscat flavor. Its great advantage over Moscatel Rosado, a variety that is widely available in the country, is that producers don't need to plant a pollinating variety, the report said.
Silvia Ulanovsky, a specialist in genetic improvement of INTA Mendoza, highlighted the importance of Argentina having its own varieties. "The development of national varieties is an example of technological sovereignty," she said.
"In addition, it represents a competitive advantage for Argentine producers, as they won't have to pay royalties for the plants," she concluded.
Source: diariolaprovinciasj.com