Vitis vinifera is the primary cultivated grape species that produces over 99 percent of the worlds wines today. It is native to Europe as well as East and Central Asia. Vitis vinifera has been planted all over the world. There are estimated to be thousands of varieties of this species, some of the best known being Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Riesling and Zinfandel.
Vitis vinifera is by far the most economically important Vitis species and accounts for most commercial grape plantings, not just for wine. Nearly three quarters of the world's commercial grape production is devoted to wine grapes, around a quarter to table grapes and much smaller amounts to dried grapes (raisins) and non-alcoholic grape juice.
Vitis vinifera is a vigorous climber, growing to a height of 16 to 20 m if left unpruned. It climbs by means of forked tendrils produced intermittently at two out of three vegetative nodes. Its leaves are 9 to 28 cm wide, long-stalked, palmately lobed and coarsely toothed. The petals of the small greenish flowers are joined at the tips.
