Vitis 'VROEGE VAN DER LAAN' grape wine

Vroege van der Laan is an early grape wine variety from the Netherlands. We are growing it in our organic garden where it thrives and performs miracles. Every year we harvest plenty of delicious fruit and the plant does not suffer from diseases. It is not a pure species of v. vinifera but a hybrid of an untraceable second parent.

It makes medium to long grapes with mid-sized seeded berries. In full maturity they turn almost a golden colour and the flavour is fantastic. It is sweet with a slight acidity to add freshness. It ripens from the end of September to October and allows continuous harvest of up to 4 weeks. It is suitable as a table grape as well as for wine making. The plant grows vigorously and is very healthy.

Grape vine has to be pruned every year in warmer days of January or at the end of winter after the danger of the worst frosts. Cut back side branches to 2-3 buds because 2-years-old wood bears fruit. Treat it against mite before buds open. When it sets fruit cut off the new shoots a few centimeters above the grape and do not let them continue growing. From midsummer you can start removing leaves from above the grapes to allow direct sunlight. Get some wasp-trap as they could ruin your fruit and may get dangerous. It is self-fertile.

Grow grape vine in sunny and airy (not windy) locations. It is not suitable for damp sites and shady pergolas where it can easily be affected by diseases. Provide a good support. The best results are on slopes because of the angle of sun rays. The soil must be well-drained, humus-rich, and deep. Extra watering is desired in late spring and later only if the summer is too dry, and always directly in the soil, never water the whole plant. In autumn remove fallen leaves from under the plants as they might contain diseases and mites. Fertilizing is good if adequate and selective, otherwise the plant will grow wild and set too much fruit of inferior quality. Vroege van der Laan grapewine is very hardy and withstands winter temperature of at least -30°C (USDA zone 5), perhaps even more which we have not been able to test.

Last update 23-01-2023