![]() Because American grapes were generally immune to phylloxera, European grape stems were grafted to American rootstock to create the modern hybrids. The hybrids were developed beginning in 1865 after a grape root aphid called Phylloxera vastarrix devastated more than 2½ million acres of European grapes in France. Modern hybrid grapes varieties originated with the European grape, Vitis vinifera. Hybrids are generally human-made plant combinations. In addition to the ancient stock of European and American grapes can be added to modern hybrid grapes, which are sometimes referred to as French hybrids. These are the grapes that the Norse explorers found when they first discovered North America in about 900 A.D. American grapes can be found in most temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. The foxiness of American grapes is contrasted to the sweet and winey flavor of European grapes. Muscadine grapes produce only half a dozen large grapes per cluster and are usually black or coppery purple colored.Īmerican grape varieties have a distinctive grapey flavor that is often referred to as foxy-which can also be characterized as musky or earthy. These grapes are tolerant of greater heat and are often grown in the South. Vitis routundifolia grapes are often referred to as muscadine grapes. The subspecies Vitis rotundifolia is another native North American grape. Slip skin grapes are sometimes called ‘Concord’ type grapes and include the black Concord grape, the green Niagara grape, and the red Catawba grape. Slip skin grapes are often used to make jelly or unfermented grape juice. These grapes require less heat than European grapes to ripen. These grapes are known as American or North American grapes and are often called slip skin grapes because their skins slip easily from the fruit pulp. North American grapes fall mainly into the species Vitis labrusca. Famous European wine grapes are ‘Chardonnay’ and ‘Zinfandel’. Two famous European table grapes are the ‘Thompson Seedless’ and the ‘Flame Seedless’. There are thousands of varieties of European grapes. These grapes were pictured in ancient Egyptian mosaics, Greek friezes, and Roman murals. European grapes are the most widely cultivated worldwide and produce the best grapes for winemaking as well as the most popular table grapes.Įuropean grapes are believed to have originated in western Asia near the Caspian Sea and have been in cultivation for more than 7,000 years. European grapes-there are many subspecies–are characterized by tight skins and generally high heat requirement for ripening. The species Vitis vinifera is often called the European grape. One species is native to Europe and the other is native to North America. There are two principal species in the grape family. After division by color, grapes can, once again, be divided into seeded and seedless grapes.Īll of this is a lot of work for a berry fruit that is simply good eating or drinking.īut wait, grapes can be divided botanically, too. White grapes-which are popularly called green grapes–include amber and yellow and green grapes, and black grapes-which are popularly called red grapes–include almost black, blue-purple, red, and pink blushed grapes. After dividing grapes into table grapes and wine grapes, grapes can be further divided by color into white grapes and black grapes. Grapes can also be used for making raisins or for producing grape juice. Table grapes are eaten out of hand or used in baking and cooking. ![]() Grapes can be broadly categorized as either table grapes or wine grapes, though many grapes can be used as both.
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