Gravenstein

'Gravenstein'
Origin	Unknown, possibly Germany or Italy. Arrived in Denmark, 1669.

Gravenstein is a triploid apple cultivar that originated in the 17th century or earlier. The fruit has a tart flavor; in the Northern Hemisphere it is picked in July and August and is heavily used as a cooking apple, especially for apple sauce and apple cider. It does not keep well, and it is available only in season.

The 'Gravenstein' plant is a triploid; it requires pollination from other trees, and is a poor pollinator of other apples. The short stems and variable ripening times make harvesting and selling difficult.

The skin of the fruit is a delicately waxy yellow-green with crimson spots and reddish lines, but the apple may also occur in a classically red variation. These red apples, known as 'Red Gravensteins', are sports, which are genetically similar to 'Gravenstein', so they are not good pollinators for it, and nor is it for them. The flesh is juicy, finely grained, and light yellow.

'Gravenstein' trees are among the largest of standard-root apples, with a strong branching structure; the wood is brownish-red and the leaves are large, shiny, and dark green. It grows best in moderate, damp, loamy soil with minimal soil drying during the summer months. Locations close to watercourses and edges of ponds are preferred. Gravensteins will not thrive in areas of high groundwater and require moderate protection against wind.

In Austria, Gravensteins are used for the production of high-quality brandy (Obstler) that is particularly popular in the southern Steiermark.

In Australia, they are available for a few weeks early in the apple season—late January and early February—from the Blue Mountains region west of Sydney.

In Denmark, Food Minister Hans Christian Schmidt proclaimed the Gravenstein to be the "national apple" on 18 September 2005, although its market share has since decreased in relation to imported apples.

In the United States, Gravensteins are found most widely on the west coast, and in particular, around the Sonoma County, California, town of Sebastopol. Luther Burbank praised the apple, "It has often been said that if the Gravenstein could be had throughout the year, no other apple need be grown."

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Wikipedia