vinifera

American  

[vahy-nif-er-uh, vi-] / vaɪˈnɪf ər ə, vɪ- /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or derived from a European grape, Vitis vinifera, widely cultivated for making wine and raisins and for table use.

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noun

1. a vinifera grape.

Etymology

Origin of vinifera

1895–1900; < New Latin, feminine of Latin vīnifer wine-producing. See vini-, -fer

Example Sentences

In 1980, there were fewer than 20 wineries in Washington and much of Stimson Lane’s inventory included wines from fruit other than the classic vinifera grapes that had transformed California into a rising power.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 12, 2022

Once scientists realized that the American vines were resistant to the pest, they used grafting to combine the Vitis vinifera scions — pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon, champagne — with the American, phylloxera-resistant rootstock.

From Salon • Oct. 30, 2022

These methods are also inextricably bound to climate change, as hybrids require significantly less tilling and agricultural inputs than their Vitis vinifera counterparts.

From Salon • Oct. 30, 2022

His son Willy took the reins and transformed the winery from an artisan tinkerer’s laboratory to a thriving business, focusing on the vinifera grape varieties that were most commercially viable.

From Washington Post • Jul. 14, 2022

V. Romaneti and V. vinifera, the Common Grape Vine, also deserve notice.

From Trees and Shrubs for English Gardens by Cook, Ernest Thomas