Grapevine

Grapevine can refer to several related concepts: the grapevine plant and the informal network of information. In botany, the grapevine denotes a woody perennial climbing vine in the genus Vitis, genus of the common grape. It is cultivated widely for fruit—grapes—and for wine production. Grapevines are typically deciduous and use tendrils to attach to supports. Leaves are palmately lobed, with a broad blade, and the fruit forms in clusters called bunches of berries. The most important cultivated species is Vitis vinifera, though several North American and hybrid species are used for rootstock and disease resistance.

In cultivation, grapevines are trained on trellises or wires. They require pruning to manage yield, form, and fruit ripening; common systems include cordon and cane-pruned methods. Vines require warm climates with a distinct growing season and well-drained soil. They are propagated by cuttings; commercial vineyards may graft Vitis vinifera cultivars onto phylloxera-resistant rootstocks. Pests and diseases include powdery mildew, downy mildew, botrytis bunch rot, and phylloxera.

Uses and products: grapevines produce table grapes for eating, raisin grapes for drying, and wine grapes for fermentation; grape products also include juice and jams. Viticulture is a global industry, with extensive regional diversity in grape varieties and winemaking styles.

The term grapevine is also used metaphorically to describe informal channels of information and rumor, as in hearing something "through the grapevine." The phrase became popular in American English in the mid-20th century, but its imagery exists earlier.