A REVIEW OF THE PRODUCTION AND QUALITY OF SOME AUTOCHTHONOUS GRAPE CULTIVARS CULTIVATED AT S.C.D.C.P.N. DĂBULENI

Abstract

Native grape cultivars are essential for preserving the cultural identity, biodiversity, and viticultural heritage of a region. The wide range of cultivars worldwide highlights the high genetic variability of grapevines and their remarkable adaptability to diverse ecological conditions. However, interest in traditional Romanian cultivars has gradually declined: some remained under cultivation until the mid-20th century, others survive only in ampelographic collections, and many have been lost. While several countries recognized the limitations of hybrid cultivars early on and chose to preserve native ones through grafting, Romanian viticulture has largely maintained its identity through the production of wines from indigenous and local cultivars. To safeguard this identity, it is vital to prioritize the cultivation of native grape cultivars, including newly developed cultivars, while also integrating foreign cultivars that have adapted well to Romanian pedoclimatic conditions. This paper provides a review of several native grape cultivars that have been historically cultivated at the Research and Development Station for Plant Culture on Sands Dăbuleni.