Description
Michele Palieri is an Italian black table grape bred at Velletri, near Rome, by Michele Palieri in 1958 from a cross of Alphonse Lavallée (Ribier) and Red Malaga. It carries big, winged, fairly loose bunches, typically 600–800 g, of oval, deep violet-black berries with a heavy bloom, crunchy sweet flesh with a neutral flavour, and one or two seeds. The handsome dark bunches travel well and hang on the vine in good condition, which made it popular in southern Italy, especially Puglia.
Characteristics
Black table grape; oval berries about 7–10 g; one or two seeds; crisp, sweet, neutral flavour; large winged bunches; ripens early September in Italy; strong vigour; travels well
Growing Tips
This is a vigorous vine that wants long pruning and a spreading training system such as a pergola or overhead tendone rather than a tight spur cordon. Summer work matters: Italian nursery guidance stresses shoot thinning and some leaf removal so that the bunches colour evenly and build up sugar. Disease susceptibility is about average. One large Italian nursery reports poor compatibility with the rootstocks 140 Ruggeri, 779 Paulsen and Kober 5BB, so ask your supplier which stock the vines are grafted on.