{{short description|Noir grape variety}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} {{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}} {{Infobox grape variety | name = Bangalore Blue | color = Noir | image = Blue grapes in vineyard.jpg | caption = | species = ''Vitis labrusca'' | also_called = Isabella | origin = | hazards = | regions = Bangalore Urban, Chikkaballapur district, Kolar district | notable_wines = }} <!-- Commented out: thumb|100px|'''Protected geographical indication''' --> '''Bangalore blue grape''', also simply called '''Bangalore Blue''', is a variety of fox grape (''Vitis labrusca'') grown in districts around Bangalore in India. It is one of the three major varieties of grape in the state of Karnataka (the other two being Thomson seedless and Anab-E-Shahi Dilkush).<ref>{{cite web|title=Vineyards in Karnataka|url=http://www.karnataka.com/vineyards/|publisher=karnataka.com|accessdate=25 January 2016}}</ref> It received a geographical indication tag from the Government of India in 2013.<ref name=toi>{{cite news|last1=Kundu|first1=Rhik|title=Bangalore Blue Grapes gets Geographical Indication status|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/Bangalore-Blue-Grapes-gets-Geographical-Indication-status/articleshow/20060462.cms|work=The Times of India|date=15 May 2013 |accessdate=25 January 2016}}</ref>
==History== The variety has been grown for the past 150 years in the districts of Bangalore Urban, Chikkaballapur and Kolar.<ref name=toi/><ref name=brand/> It is cultivated exclusively in an area of about 5,000 hectares, mainly in the Nandi Valley;<ref>{{cite web|title=Grape farmers get the blues|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/grape-farmers-get-the-blues/article2697462.ece|work=The Hindu|accessdate=25 January 2016}}</ref> and about 450,000 tonnes of the fruit are produced annually.<ref name=toi/>
==Appearance and uses== Bangalore Blue is closely related to the American Concord variety which has a strong natural resistance against phylloxera bugs. The variety has a "foxy flavor" and a soft skin.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Aravamudan|first1=Sriram|title=Grapefully yours|url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/columns/you/Grapefully-yours/articleshow/28480573.cms|work=Bangalore Mirror|accessdate=25 January 2016}}</ref>
The ideal conditions needed to grow Bangalore Blue are: soil of red sandy loam type, day temperature of 35 °C to 37 °C and night temperature of 12 °C to 15 °C. As these conditions are found around the Bangalore region, the variety is grown exclusively there.<ref name=toi/>
The grape is mainly used for raw consumption, making jams and jellies, juice and juice concentrates; and in fortified wines.<ref name=toi/><ref name=brand/>
==Geographical indication== The Department of Horticulture proposed the registration of Bangalore Blue under the Geographical Indications of Goods Act, 1999, to the Office of the Controller-General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks, Chennai, in order to make it exclusive to the farmers in the region and increase its brand value.<ref name=brand>{{cite web|last1=Subramanya|first1=K V|title=Building brand value for Bangalore Blue grapes|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/building-brand-value-for-bangalore-blue-grapes/article2202606.ece|work=The Hindu|accessdate=25 January 2016}}</ref><ref name=know>{{cite web|last1=Prabhu|first1=Nagesh|title=Know your onions about Bangalore Blue and Rose|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/know-your-onions-about-bangalore-blue-and-rose/article2806867.ece|work=The Hindu|accessdate=25 January 2016}}</ref> It was granted the Geographical indication status, three years later, in 2013.<ref name=toi/> This allowed the Bangalore Blue Grapes Growers' Association headquartered in Chikkaballapur to get patent rights to cultivation of the variety.<ref name=know/>
==See also== * List of Geographical Indications in India
==References== {{Reflist}}
Category:Grape varieties Category:Flora of Karnataka Category:Geographical indications in Karnataka