🌿 Grape leaf
The vine's leaf; it helps identify the variety and is used to make dolma.
A grape leaf is the leaf of the grapevine. It is green and broad, usually with five lobes and a toothed edge. Each variety has a slightly different leaf shape, which is why varieties can be identified by their leaves. The science that does this is called ampelography.
The leaf’s main job is photosynthesis. In the light it turns water and carbon dioxide into sugar. That sugar feeds the vine and makes the berries sweet. The healthier the leaves, the better the grapes ripen. This is why growers watch the canopy and, when needed, remove some leaves around the bunches.
Leaves are also eaten. In Greece, Turkey, Armenia and the Caucasus, young leaves are brined and used to wrap rice and meat. The dish is called dolma.
In autumn the leaves turn red or yellow and fall. For the vine this is the sign to go into winter rest. Leaves contain no alcohol and are not part of wine itself, but there would be no wine without them.
Links
- Next step
- 🍷 Ampelography
- Works with
- 🍷 Photosynthesis
- Part of
- 🌿 Grapevine
Frequently asked questions
What is the grape leaf for?
It makes sugar from light, water and carbon dioxide. That sugar feeds the vine and the berries.
What is dolma in grape leaves made of?
Usually rice, sometimes with meat and spices. The young leaves are blanched or brined first.
How can you identify a grape variety by its leaf?
By the shape, the number of lobes, the teeth and the hairiness. This is the work of ampelography.
Similar
🌿 Vitis riparia · 🌿 Vitis rupestris · 🌿 Vitis amurensis · 🌿 Vitis berlandieri · 🌿 Grapevine roots · 🌿 Grape