vine

Black grapes on the vine at Chateauneuf-du-Papes, France. During the pressing process the yeast on the skin of the grape converts the sugar content of the grape juice into ethanol (ethyl alcohol).

A vineyard in San Leo, Italy, being sprayed with pesticide to control mildew or virus diseases that can attack the vine. Pesticides protect against insect damage, weeds, fungi, and other pests, but can cause problems when they remain in the food chain.

A vineyard in autumn, in Napa Valley, California, USA.

The small town of Ediger, in the Mosel Valley in western Germany, contains half-timbered houses dating back many hundreds of years. The vineyards that line the slopes of the valley have a longstanding reputation for producing popular German white wines.

Any of a group of climbing woody plants, especially V. vinifera, native to Asia Minor and cultivated from antiquity. The fruits (grapes) are eaten or made into wine or other fermented drinks; dried fruits of certain varieties are known as raisins and currants. Many other species of climbing plant are also called vines. (Genus Vitis, family Vitaceae.)