Are strawberry grapes bad? Let’s debunk a cliché!

Many believe that strawberry grapes are bad for them as they are immediately associated with fragolino wine, the sale of which is prohibited in Europe. However, this is a cliché to dispel: let’s find out more!

The cultivation of strawberry grapes

Strawberry grapes are also ideal for home growing in a city environment. Here are some tips for a successful cultivation:

• Choose a well-drained soil;
• Expose the plant to the sun or partial shade. It is important to always keep it sheltered from ;
• If growing in an open field, the seedlings must be placed at about 70-90 cm from each other, making sure they grow vertically;
• The plant can also be grown in pots, as long as you choose one that is at least 30 cm in diameter and has medium-textured soil.

The germination of strawberry grapes is quite late (usually in late spring), while ripening is medium-early: about the second half of August in the warmer regions of Southern Italy, and about first half of September in the North.

The result is a grape with small, oval, purplish-black berries and a firm and juicy pulp. The scent is unique and the sweet taste is reminiscent of strawberry. It is a vine much appreciated by growers, as it is well resistant to viticultural diseases and does not require special care. In addition to the classic use as eating grapes, it can be used to prepare sweets, jellies and ice cream. For example RivaReno selects the best strawberry grapes to obtains a sweet nectar, which is then used, together with the grape skins, to prepare a fragrant and intense flavor for ice creams. You can taste this delicacy at RivaReno, from around mid-September to mid-October.

Why is fragolino wine forbidden

Despite being its main ingredient, the risks associated with taking Fragolino wine are not to be found in the strawberry grape itself, but in the fermentation process of the fruit. This process involves the concentration of a high level of (toxic) methanol and / or tannin. For these reasons, fragolino wine is banned in Europe by a legislative prohibition of 1931: according to the legislative provisions, therefore, the production of wine is allowed exclusively for private use.