Vitis

Vitis is a genus of flowering plants in the grape family Vitaceae, comprising about 60 to 80 species. The best-known cultivated species is Vitis vinifera, the common grapevine, with distinctive use in wine production as well as fresh fruit, dried fruit, and juice. The genus also includes many wild species used in breeding and as rootstocks.

Vitis vines are deciduous, woody climbers that ascend using tendrils opposite the leaves. Leaves are typically palmately lobed, and the plants produce small flowers arranged in inflorescences called panicles. The fruit forms in clusters; berries vary in color from green to red, blue, or black depending on the cultivar and species.

Taxonomically, Vitis vinifera is the principal cultivated species, native to the Mediterranean region and western Asia. Other species widely used in breeding or for rootstocks include Vitis labrusca (North American, e.g., Concord), Vitis riparia, Vitis amurensis, and Vitis rotundifolia (muscadine). Numerous interspecific hybrids have been developed to combine desirable traits such as disease resistance and climate tolerance.

Vitis is native to temperate regions of Europe, Asia, and North Africa, with wild relatives in North America. Today, grapevines are cultivated worldwide in temperate climates, typically on well-drained soils and with management of canopy, water, and pests.

Propagation is mainly by cuttings, though grafting onto resistant rootstocks is common to combat phylloxera. Economic uses include wine production, table grapes, dried fruit (raisins), and grape juice. The genus faces pests and diseases such as phylloxera, powdery mildew, downy mildew, and botrytis, driving ongoing breeding for resistance and adaptation.