Photo by VIVC - Vitis International Variety Catalogue
Description
Irsai Olivér was bred in 1930 by Pál Kocsis in Kecskemét, from Pozsonyi Fehér and Csaba Gyöngye, and was approved in 1959. It is both a table grape and a wine grape, with an intense, fine muscat flavour. It ripens early, from mid-August. The medium bunches are loose and carry small, golden-yellow speckled berries with a thin but tough skin. Its wines are light, fresh and perfumed, and are best drunk young.
Characteristics
White (golden-yellow) table and wine grape; early ripening (from mid-August); medium, shouldered, loose to medium-dense bunches; small round berries; thin but tough skin; juicy, sweet flesh with intense muscat flavour; moderate vigour; berries rarely rot; moderately susceptible to fungal disease
Growing Tips
Irsai Olivér ripens early and its tough-skinned berries rarely rot, which makes it a forgiving first grape. It is moderately susceptible to fungal diseases, so it still needs some spraying. In dry years wasps cause heavy damage, so bag the bunches or net the vine as they ripen. Cuttings root easily.