Brola
Brola – is a vine type with white grapes. It is spread in central and upper Adjara- on the left side of Adjaristskhali. It draws attention as a high qualitative vine type, from which table white wine is made.
In some villages of central Adjara, it is known also by the name of Brolas Wine, Brolas Vine and Brolas Grape. This type fully justifies its name, because the grape, during full ripeness, is distinctive and becomes very beautiful.
Notes about its origin are not available in literary sources. Very brief characterization, with designation of distribution area, is given by Timofeev. He thinks that Brola belongs to a group of Adjarian vine types. Javakhishvili, according to the work of Timofeev, also places Brola on the list of Adjarian vine types. Relatively complete materials about this type’s botanical and agricultural features are represented in the Ampelography of Cholokhashvili.
The above-mentioned authors consider Brola as an Adjarian vine type according to its distribution area and it must be considered wholly confirmed as such.
The indigenous types originated in Kolkhi, and, according to the intensity of leaves downiness and flower types, are divided into two clearly different groups: the first group consists of types with downy leaves and a functionally feminine flower. The second group consists of types with faint or curled hairs and normally developed hermaphroditic flowers. These groups are divided into transitional groups.
Brola belongs to the first group. It originated in Adjara, from a variety of wild vine, which, over the centuries- as a result of natural selection and then as a result of human intervention -it was transformed and gained a number of good features- a beautiful structure of bunch and grain, abundant harvest in the case of appropriate fecundation, and high taste features of production. So, Brola is representative of the Kolkhetian hub, which originated and was shaped in ecological conditions of this region and over the centuries became differentiated into the group of Adjarian local vine types.
According to the local population, the distribution area of Brola was middle and upper Adjara. This type was massively spread on high ground and, despite neglect; it gave abundant harvest and high qualitative production. According to legend, the population of Adjara used Brola until the 17th century to make white wines for local consumption. Confirmation of this is its old name: Brola wine. Later, Turkey captured these territories and the local population became Muslim and plantations of Brola reduced significantly: the harvest of remaining roots was used only as table grapes or grape juice and for making syrup.
In the following period, the spread of fungal diseases and phylloxera contributed to more reduction of Brola. This, Turkey’s conquest, and the dwindling interest of the local population towards viticulture, contributed to the near-destruction of Brola and other types.
Presently, the distribution area of Brola is very limited. We can see it at height in Keda and Khulo. Its growth-development, because of neglect is less than average and productivity is very changeable. Only in conditions of good weather does it give a satisfactory harvest.
Minor plantations of Brola as grafts are represented in the village of Keda on plots of vine collection, where its growth-development harvest and quality of production is quite satisfactory. We also see them on the base of the Institute of Viticulture and Enology in Telavi, and in Mukhrani Educational farm in the district of Vaziani.
According to materials of the 1953 observation- in Adjara, in the Khulo district, plantations of Brola were on 0.03 hectare, and in Gardabani district: 0.78. Observation confirms that the Brola of the Khulo district is an Adjarian type called Tetra, and that the Brola grown in Gardabani is an unknown vine with white grapes, which has no similarity to Adjarian Brola.
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Botanical description
Brola is described in the village of Medzina of the Keda district. Vines are grown at height. In order to compare the same type as described in the Keda village on the collection plot, where vines are cultivated on lowlands following the Georgian rule of staking.
The young sprout
Buds are whitish-red during expansion and are covered with whitish-gray curled down. Newly expanded leaves are greenish-yellow on the upper side and covered in wavy, hair-like down. Its underside has the same downiness. First leaves, followed by second and third young leaves on the upper side are greenish-violet with a reddish tone. On the undersides they are covered with whitish-gray hair-like down. On grown leaves, there are less hairs and they take on a gray color.
Young sprouts are rounded, light green and lightly covered with whitish-gray down which increases towards the tip of the sprouts.
The one-year shoot
An average thick shoot is brown and has axils the same color. The length of inter-axil spaces reaches 6 - 12cm.
The leaf
Grown leaves are an average size and have a rounded wide-oval shape, which is slightly veiny. The average length of blades is 14.2 – 15.3cm, and width 14.5 - 15.5cm.
The incisions of leaves are lyre-like and have rounded basis. The distribution of incisions is spread over three or four lobes. On the basis of incisions, in some cases, one tooth is developed.
Upper incisions are often open and lightly cut, more rarely we can see pore-like. Lower incisions are very lightly cut.
Leaves are three-lobed. The tip of the lobe creates a blunt angle with the leaf blade.
The teeth of the top lobe are triangular and have acute tips. We can see triangular rounded tips and serrated triangular teeth. Secondary teeth are triangular, with acute or rounded tips, serrated, and on one side we can see convex-sided teeth.
The undersides of leaves are quite downy. Their surface is smooth and often laminar or curl like a funnel. The main lobes are quite downy and have a light green color.
The ratio of leaf-petiole to the center of the main lobe is 0.6 – 0.9cm; is bare and is a light green color, becoming violet towards the basis.
The flower
The flowers are hermaphroditic, only massively functional in the feminine form. There are four or five stamens in a flower, rarely six, and the number of flowers in receptacles can reach 160 - 270.
The bunch
The length of bunch petioles reaches 4-5cm, the length of bunches: 13 - 17 cm and width 6 – 9.5 cm. There are 59 - 72 berries in a bunch.
Bunches generally have a cone or cone-cylindrical shape. Sometimes they are branched. Bunches are sparse, and we can occasionally see bunches of average density. The petiole of bunches with sprouts is grass-like and has a green color.
The grain
The length of berry petioles including receptacles is 4 - 5mm, and width 14.2 – 17.8mm. Grains are rounded, wider in the center of the body, are symmetric and have rounded ends. They are quite thick-skinned and fleshy, juicy, and have quite a pleasant sweet taste. The skin of berries is lightly covered with wax.
The seed
There are one to four seeds in a grain, more rarely we can find two seeds. The length of seeds reaches 6 - 7mm and width 3 – 3.5mm. Seeds are brown and, on the abdomen side in clefts, it is yellowish. The kalaza is oblong and oval. Tips are yellowish, with a length of 1.5mm.
Agro-biological description
The vegetation period and course of phases. Phenological observations on the course of vegetation phases took place in the village of Medzibna of the Keda district, on vines cultivated at height and in the village of Keda, on vines cultivated on lowlands on collective plots.
Table 1 shows the average data for five years. (See Table 1).
The vegetation period of Brola, cultivated at height in the village Medzibna, from bud expansion to full ripeness of grape, was 191 days. The awaking of the vine in this zone begins from the first of April, with the complete expansion of buds taking place from 8 April.
Flowering begins from 7 June and mass flowering from 10 - 12 June. In the case of suitable weather, flowering ends by 20 June. Grapes begin maturing from the end of October or beginning of September and mass ripening occurs from the middle of October. Leaves begin falling from the beginning of November and stop by the beginning of December. Because high-cultivated vine is deprived of care, in suitable weather, the action of fungal diseases is greater and, as a result, leaves fall early. Because of this, the total length of the vegetation season reduces significantly.
There is not a great difference between the course of biological phases on the collective plot of the village Keda and that of the village Mezibna, which can be explained by their similar ecological conditions. But it must be noted that the vegetation season of vines cultivated on lowlands is prolonged by one week, which is a result of appropriate vine-care and resulting in late leaf fall.
Shoots reach full ripeness by the period of mass grape- ripening and take on the characteristic tone of this time. In the case of unsuitable weather, because of early leaf-fall, the tips of shoots on vines cultivated at height are unable to ripen and freeze as a result of winter frosts.
The growth of vine
If the weather is suitable, the growth of Brola cultivated at height is average. By the end of the vegetation season, the length of some shoots reaches 1 - 1.5m. During the spread of fungal diseases, the growth of vegetation parts is weakened; leaves become ill and fall early. As a result, shoots located close to the tips are left unripe and immature. This is accompanied by a reduction in the strength of vegetation seasons. Growth-development of Brola cultivated on the collective plots of Keda is average or stronger than average. The length of the shoots of suitable cared-for vines, by the end of the vegetation season, often reaches 2m.
The productivity
The harvest of vines cultivated at height is changeable because of neglect. In the case of suitable weather, they bear small bunches. On lowlands, they bear more dense and juvenile bunches, which are the indubitable result of the normal loading and appropriate care of the vines.
In Table 2 is information about the productivity of Brola according to the data of five years from the villages of Medzibna and Keda.
As we mentioned above, the productivity of Brola cultivated at height is changeable. In the case of good weather, the harvest from one vine can reach 40 - 50kg and sometimes more, with harvest from one hectare not exceeding 60 - 65 centners
The harvest of Brola cultivated on lowlands is regular, which is indubitably achieved by the timely and qualitative conducting of agro-technical processes. Productive sprouts on vines cultivated on lowlands reaches 76%. The coefficient of productivity is 1.5. Often, there are two bunches on a shoot, we can also see only one. The harvest from one vine reaches 1.2 - 2kg and, from one hectare, 60 - 80 centners. Sprouts which originate from old parts of the vine are usually unproductive.
Durability against fungal diseases, pests and attitude towards external conditions
It has weak durability against fungal diseases and it is particularly susceptible to mildew. Combatative measures against diseases on high-cultivated vines are not conducted and, as a result, in warm and rainy weathers, the harvest and green parts of the vines are destroyed. Vines cultivated on lowlands are also damaged by mildew, but as a result of opportune treatment, the effects of this disease are minimized. In order to retain the harvest and vegetation, mass treatment of Brola- in the district of Adjara -must be an obligatory measure.
In order to increase productivity and improve the quality, reproduction of Brola as grafts must be considered an obligatory measure. It gives relatively more yield when in the deep soil of lowlands, but, as a result of fungal diseases and accumulation of surplus water in the grain, the quality of production is worsened. Because of this, in order to make high qualitative production characteristic to the type, it must be cultivated on sloping foothills in the south, which are abundantly lit by sun, and pruning posts should be longer or raked correctly with 3 - 4 supporting elements on each. Brola can be successfully decorated by bilateral wallpaper and cordon rules and in these cases stake-wire must be used. Conducting this measure will strengthen the airing and action of sun on vegetation parts of the vine and, as a result, the quality of production will be improved, and the carrying out of working processes on plots will be easier.
Brola has good durability against the frosts which are characteristic for central Adjara. Vines awaken timely and their growth-development is quite normal. The freezing of tips on vines cultivated at height is caused by their immaturity. Vines cultivated on lowlands are not characterized by this.
Agro-technical characteristics
Mechanical structure of grape. According to the Agricultural functions, Brola is a wine type. The external appearance of bunches and the mechanic-chemical structure confirms this. At the same time, it can be successfully used as a table grape.
In order to become acquainted with the mechanical structure of Brola grapes, we bring results of analysis from vineyards located on lowlands and also at height.
As we can see in Table 3, the ratio of parts consisting of grape is represented by slightly varying patterns. In patterns of high-located vines, a slight reduction of juice can be the result of weather conditions and pruning influence.
We see quite a difference between the average weights of bunches, which is mainly caused by pruning influence. On high-located vines, bunches are sparser and smaller than those grown on lowlands.
The mechanical analysis of 100 berries gives the following picture: the average weight reaches 115-121g, in 100 berries there are 243 seeds, the weight of which is 7g. From these, berries with one seed make up 11%, berries with two seeds- 41%, with three seeds-37%, and with four seeds- 11%. Small berries are often seedless or contain one or two undeveloped seeds.
Chemical structure of juice
The chemical structure of juice varies significantly accordingly to the weather conditions. Here we bring the results of the gluco analysis, which took place in periods of harvest over three years.
Observation confirms that late harvesting slightly increases the amount of sugar in grapes. For example, in grapes which were harvested in 1952, 27/10, only 21% sugar was discovered. Accumulation of such a small amount of sugar in grapes was caused by the growth of the hydrothermal coefficient, which was caused by abundant sediments and, as a result, accumulation of water. However, such patterns can freely be considered as satisfactory for making table white wines for local consumption.
In order to study the nature of Brola’s wine, the pattern of the grape was taken from the village of Medzibna, from vine cultivated at height in the autumn of 1951, and model wine material was made in the laboratory of the Agricultural Institute.
Here we show the results of the chemical analysis of the wine.
The notes shown in Table 5 confirm the richness of the wine, normal consistency of alcohol (11.2%) with combined acidity (7.02%), and slight volatile acidity (0.80%) , which confirms the cheerfulness of the wine.
Due to few materials, observation of wine aging has not taken place and no legend exists about this, but the organoleptic features and chemical nature of wine made from young sprouts makes us think that, in time, this wine will improve in its taste features, storage ability and become more transportable.
General evaluation and distribution by district
Among Adjarian vines with white grapes, Brola indubitably deserves special attention, because its products can be successfully used for making white table wines of local consumption and table grape. The imperfection of the flowers and weak durability against phylloxera and mildew can be considered its shortcomings. The above-mentioned shortcomings can be easily corrected: first by artificial reproduction of the vines and, second, by additional treatment once or twice, and fungicide.
In order to increase productivity and improve the quality of production, it must be cultivated on slopes which are abundantly lit by the sun and decorated following wallpaper and cordon-like rules.
Brola, as a perspective type, must be cultivated in the following zones and micro-districts of Adjarian viticulture:
- a) In the zones of Kveda-Zvare and Dandalo-Tskmorisi: in the micro-districts of Agara, Zendidi, Kedi, Zesopeli, Vaio, Zvare, Tskhmorisi and Dandalo.
- b) In Merisi gorge: in the micro-districts of Alikogli, Sikhliza and Medzibna.
- c) In the zones of Akhaldaba-Chvana, Djabnidzeebi-Uchamba, Shuakhevi-khepi and Purtio: in the micro-districts of Shuakhevi, Dabadzveli, Chvana, Duschvana, Akhaldaba, Varjanauli, Samoleti, Nigazeuli and Purtio.
This type is also perspective for other regions of Western Georgia.
In future it must be cultivated only as grafts on specially selected roots which can endure phylloxera.
Bibliography
- Ketskhoveli N., Zones of Cultural Plants in Georgia. Tbilisi, 1957.
- Ramishvili M., Vine Types of Guria, Samegrelo and Adjara. Tbilisi. 1948.
- Tabidze D., Standard Assortment of Georgian Vine Types. Works of Institute of Viticulture and Enology. Tbilisi, 1948.
- Cholokhashvili S., Guidebook of Viticulture. Book II, Amphelograpy. Tbilisi, 1938.
- Javakhishvili Iv., Economic History of Georgia, Book II. Tbilisi, 1934.
