Grapevine (Vitis vinifera) LILLA

Grapevine (Vitis vinifera) 'Lilla'

Early Hungarian variety with crunchy berries, ideal for homemade raisins.

'Lilla' is a popular Hungarian white table grape variety. It wins over growers with its earliness, airy habit (requiring less canopy management), and attractive, looser clusters. The berries are crunchy, have a thin skin, and almost imperceptible seeds, making them excellent not only for fresh consumption but also for making homemade raisins.

Main advantages of the variety:

• Crunchy and juicy berries with thin skin.
• Almost imperceptible seeds (excellent for raisins).
• Early ripening (from mid-August).
• Easy care (forms few lateral shoots).
• Berries do not drop or crack after ripening.

Origin and Registration

• Country of origin: Hungary
• Breeder: Dr. Sándor Szegedi et al.
• Parentage: 'Eger 2' × ['Villard Blanc' × ('Pannónia kincse' × 'Mathiász János diadala')] (1970)

Variety Characteristics

Vine

• Vigor: Medium strong to strong. Shoots are medium long, red-brown.
• Foliage: Airy, forms few lateral shoots (vines are easy to manage).
• Yield: Buds are very fruitful, bears richly and reliably.

Fruit (Cluster and Berry)

• Clusters: Large (average 334 g), winged. They are medium dense to looser (preventing rot), with a long, firm stalk.
• Berries: Medium to large (4.9 g), oval to elongated.
• Color: Yellow-white to green-yellow, glassy with a waxy bloom. May have a golden-rusty tint on the sunny side when overripe.
• Flesh and Taste: Crunchy, juicy. The taste is harmonious, sweet, and fresh (neutral aroma). The skin is thin and imperceptible when eaten.
• Seeds: Very small, almost imperceptible ("mini-seeds").
• Usage: Fresh consumption, fruit bowls, baking, raisin production.

Resistance and Requirements

• Frost resistance: Good (down to -19 °C), adaptable to cooler conditions.
• Diseases: Good resistance to powdery mildew. Medium resistance to other fungal diseases. In rainy weather and when overripe, it is prone to rot.
• Requirements: Requires a sunny location and well-drained, nutritious soil. Appreciates watering during droughts.

Harvest and Storage

• Ripening time: Early to mid-early (mid-August to September).
• Storage: Moderately good transportability. Stays fresh for a few days in a cool place.