This week, we take a look at some of the ARRA™ varieties closing the season in Chile in the southern hemisphere and check out the start of the season in Egypt in the northern hemisphere
Last, but not least
ARRA Mystic Dream™ (ARRA 32)
ARRA Mystic Dream™ (ARRA 32) is planted commercially in California in Giumarra vineyards and in Brazil (São Francisco valley) with great promise as a late variety. Having been exposed to rain, the second year results in Brazil have proven that ARRA Mystic Dream™ (ARRA 32) is tolerant to autumn rains. In addition, as ARRA agent, Karl Conrads reports, “This variety is known for being one of the most easy varieties to grow and has an easy growing protocol.”
The Chilean crop of ARRA Mystic Dream (ARRA 32) is reminiscent of Californian production and quality.
ARRA Passion Punch™ (ARRA 28)
ARRA Passion Punch™ (ARRA 28), a late-season red variety with a sweet apple flavour, recently started to be produced in a few countries in commercial plantations. At present, it is planted in California at Giumarra vineyards and at Jupiter Marketing‘s project in Greece, Grapa recommends this variety especially for late season harvests in high chill regions. Karl Conrads relates, “All the people and growers find that this variety has an amazing eating quality, there is nothing comparable with this great flavour.”
Making a Grape First Impression
The ARRA varieties have got off to a great start this season in Egypt. Judging by the growth and bunch shape it looks like this season is starting with great potential.
ARRA Sweeties™ (ARRA 15)
As Osama Shazly, our Egyptian agronomist reports, this spring the bunches are widely stretched naturally and look very promising.
Since ARRA Sweeties™ (ARRA 15) sensitivity to Nitrogen and vine strength at bloom cause flower shattering, the Sahara team went back to the old common practice of pinching the bunch bottom in order to avoid high shatter and straggling bunches.
ARRA Passion Fire™ (ARRA 29)
The similarity in culture practices of growing the variety Early Sweet to the ARRA Passion Fire™ (ARRA 29) came as a benefit to the technical team of ARRA growers, Belco, as they are specialized in growing Early Sweet. The flowering bunches’ shatter looks perfect. Clean and loose.
ARRA Sugar Drop™ (ARRA 30)
Usually, at the beginning of the season, the ARRA Sugar Drop™ (ARRA 30) bunches are small and tight, here we see great bunch stretching which goes in parallel with the internodes stretch. The bunches uniformity and looseness are very promising.
We would like to thank the ARRA growers in the southern hemisphere for their continued support of the ARRA programme worldwide and we wish the ARRA growers in the northern hemisphere a very successful season ahead.
