Grape
Vitis vinifera L.
Grape (Vitis vinifera) is a woody climbing vine of the grape family whose berries grow in clusters; rich in sugars, polyphenols and resveratrol, it is eaten fresh and made into raisins, juice and especially wine — one of humanity's oldest fruit crops.
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Bunch of grapesOverview
Grape is a long-lived woody climber with tendrils opposite the leaves; its leaves are heart- to palm-shaped with serrate margins. Small greenish-yellow bisexual flowers give way to spherical to oval berries — purple, red or green — borne in clusters and containing 1–4 seeds. The vine roots deeply and tolerates drought fairly well.
Grapes originated in the Caucasus and West Asia and have been cultivated for over 6,000 years. In Vietnam, Ninh Thuận (Phan Rang) is famous for its dry, sunny climate that allows two crops a year, with Bình Thuận and Khánh Hòa also producing. The fruit is eaten fresh, dried into raisins and juiced; most of the world crop is fermented into wine, and the seeds yield oil.
Distribution & origin
Share of recorded occurrences by region- Europe30%
- China20%
- Vietnam (Ninh Thuận)10%
- Others40%
Chemical composition
Relative content in agarwood resin- ResveratrolAntioxidant in the skin25%
- PolyphenolsCardiovascular benefit35%
- Sugars and organic acidsSweet-tart taste40%
Uses
- Eaten fresh
- Raisins and juice
- Wine production; seed oil
Properties
- Taste
- Sweet, aromatic, slightly tart
- Value
- Rich in polyphenols and resveratrol
Habitat & conservation
Temperate to dry subtropical, sunny climates; well-drained soils.
Conservation
Widely cultivated in thousands of varieties; not threatened.
References
- 1Kew Science – Plants of the World Online: Vitis vinifera — Kew (Plants of the World Online), 2026
- 2Wikipedia – Vitis vinifera — Wikipedia, 2026