Page update: 01 January 2000

Red Misket (Cherven Misket)

This variety has been cultivated on our territories since ancient times and it is considered to be an old Bulgarian variety. It is spread mainly in the sub-Balkan Valley and Sredna Gora - the Sungurlare Valley, and the Karlovo and Brezovo districts. There are smaller plantations in the Stara Zagora, Sliven, Yambol and Vratza districts.

The bunch is medium in size (15.3/9.3 cm), cylindrical-conical, sometimes single or double winged, semi-compact to compact. Its average weight is 141-239g. The grape is very small (14/14.2 mm), almost spherical and, when the bunch is compact, deformed. Its skin is medium thick, tough, pinkish-red with a violet nuance, covered with a thick waxen bloom and typical dark dots. The grape is juicy and sweet and has a pleasant Misket flavour.

Rootstock Shasla x Berlandieri 41B is the most appropriate one for it because the vines grafted to it do not sprout aments and the yields are stable and high (if the variety is well cultivated, the yield is around 10000-12000 kg/hectare). Hilly, airy regions are appropriate for it. Misket cherven is the most frost-resilient variety among the local varieties and it surpasses many foreign vine varieties, too.

The grapes accumulate 18-21% of sugar, with 5.4-6g/dm3 of titratable acids. The variety is mixed with other varieties in order to improve its acidity. The wines have a straw-yellow colour, a harmonious taste and a pleasant Misket flavour. The famous white dry Euxinograd wines are produced when the variety is mixed with Dimyat and Italian Riesling.