Concord is the most famous American grape, described by Horace Greeley as "the grape for the millions" with vigorous, hardy and productive vines that produce medium-sized clusters bearing large blue-black berries. Concord grapes are tough skinned, flavorful and highly aromatic - an all purpose gr...
Somerset Seedless is among the earliest maturing and most winter hardy seedless grapes. It produces small to medium-sized, compact clusters with medium-sized berries with adherent skin and great strawberry-like flavor.
Itasca is the newest cold-hardy release out of the University of Minnesota Breeding program. Itasca produces a dry white wine that is light yellow to straw in color and has aromas of pear, quince, violet, melon, minerals, and subtle honey notes. Itasca has exhibited lower acidity and higher sugar...
Marquette is rapidly becoming the most popular northern red grape variety. Typically maturing with high sugar content and moderate acidity, Marquette can produce complex wines with attractive ruby color and pronounced tannins, often with notes of cherry, berry, black pepper, and spice.
Concord Seedless is a seedless sport of the classic Concord grape, featuring clusters and berries slightly smaller than the original. This blue-black grape matures earlier than Concord, delivering excellent flavor ideal for pies and preserves. With moderate vigor and a trailing growth habit, Conc...
Frontenac produces grapes with high sugar and high acidity used to produce dry red wine, rosé, and port. Wines typically present aromas of cherry and other red fruits. Acid reducing techniques are often used by the winemaker.
Norton (also known as Cynthiana) is a V. labruscana x V. aestivalis hybrid with a long history in eastern US wine production, particularly in Missouri and Virginia. Norton produces small to medium clusters of firm, round, black berries that ripen very late and require a warm growing season. When ...
Brianna is a relatively easy to grow variety with good disease resistance and winter hardiness. Produces light, semi-sweet table wines with grapefruit, tropical, and floral characteristics, with a pronounced pineapple nose and flavor when fully ripe.
Developed as a table grape, Edelweiss has medium-sized berries on large loose clusters. Wine is usually finished sweet and has pineapple overtones; fruit should be harvested at 14°- 16° brix to avoid strong Labrusca flavors.
Bluebell resembles Concord in size and color but matures earlier and is more cold hardy than Concord.
La Crescent is one of the more popular Northern varieties and includes Muscat Hamburg in its geneology. La Crescent has high acidity and is used to produce off-dry to sweet wines, typically with apricot, peach, and citrus characteristics, and is also used for dessert and late harvest wines.
St. Croix produces wines that have been compared to a light to medium burgundy. Sugar content and tannins are low at maturity, but St. Croix has been used both as a varietal and for blending.
Widely grown in Ohio and Central NY as early as the mid 19th century and widely used for sparkling wine, Catawba was the most popular grape cultivated in the US prior to the introduction of Concord, and was the major variety used for wine production in Ohio prior to Prohibition. Catawba is a spic...
Osceola Muscat is a relatively new variety, one of the most hardy varieties with muscat character, but with very early bud break.
Valiant is extremely winter hardy and produces small, compact clusters of small berries that ripen reliably. It is used for juice and jelly where other varieties are not hardy enough to be grown.
A sister seedling of La Crosse, St. Pepin typically produces fruit with low acidity and is used for German style white wines and for ice wine. Not self-pollinated so must be planted near another variety that blooms at the same time.
Swenson Red produces medium to large conical clusters with large, round, non-slipskin berries with firm flesh. Can be used to make a distinctive white wine as fermentation on the skins is not recommended.
Prairie Star is a vigorous vine that produces long, loose clusters, is moderately productive, and does not require cluster thinning. Prairie Star can produce wines that lack foxiness with good hybrid wine quality. Poor fruit set has been seen in some seasons.
Fredonia is an early Concord-type, ripening about two weeks earlier. Valued for both table grape production and for wine.
Maréchal Foch is an early ripening black grape with small berries and clusters, often susceptible to bird predation. It can be made into a variety of wines ranging from light and fruity to full-bodied.
