Vitis vinifera or the Grape Vine is a hardy, woody, deciduous vine with large hand-shaped leaves producing glorious Autumn colour and the most delicious fruit for eating or wine making.
This plant has been cultivated longer than almost any other with many varieties emerging from different regions, be they for wine or eating (though few grapes are suitable for both). Variations occur in fruit size, colour and taste, with white, red and black being the most common, with Vitis vinifera is a parent of most varieties.
They climb by twining tendrils, the rather insignificant panicles of green flowers have a delicate scent then the fruits set in large bunches, which swell as they ripen to marble size or larger.
No Greek cafeteria or roadside restaurant is complete without a pergola covered with a grape vine, providing shade in summer and light in winter.