Contribution to the introduction of the Syrah grapevine cultivar (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Syrah) into the wine regions of Koper and Vipava Valley

Abstract

The Syrah variety was included among the candidates for introduction in the w. r. (wine regions) of Koper and the Vipava valley. We aim to stress the significance of environmental factors as generators of diversity. The Syrah variety growing regions are presented (the northern and southern parts of the country along the Rhône river (France), the Barossa valley and Hunter valley (Australia), Napa valley (U.S.A.), Hawkes bay (New Zealand), and the w. r. of Koper and the Vipava valley (Slovenia) using climatic parameters. In the 2000 growth period, the elements of growth and fertility were monitored in four clones of the Syrah variety (99, 300, 301, 470), as well as compared with the Merlot variety (519). We aimed to find the differences among the Syrah variety clones, between the Syrah and Merlot varieties, as well as the differences between the two w. r. The highest fertility is found in clone 99, and in clone 470 the lowest. Due to a lower crop load and consequently lower yield in particular, the Syrah variety has higher sugar contents in the wine region of the Vipava valley than in the region of Koper. We end with a conclusion that from the winegrower’s aspect the Merlot variety is better in both w. r., yet the introduction of the Syrah variety in the range of grapevines in both w. r. is proposed, particularly because of its increasing world-wide popularity.