Grapes and Wine

If you are thinking about growing grapes for wine, you may be wondering about which types of grapes are best for home wine making. Many of the popular eating grapes, such as concord, are not really the best when it comes to making wine. So here is the lowdown on grapes and wine.

1) Auxerrois grapes. If you want a soft and fruity wine, these are a good selection. Some vineyards will mix it with Pinot Blanc to help create a well balance wine.

2) Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. Not for eating, but as you may know, they can make an excellent red wine. The grapes themselves are quite tough and very small - but from these small grapes comes great wine!

3) Chardonnay grapes. Most common in warmer climates, these grapes make an excellent white wine that is fruity in nature (some say they have oak overtones as well). A very popular wine grape variety to grow.

4) Grenache grapes. A Spanish grape used to make rose wine, it is actually the second most popular wine grape grown in the world! It makes a fruity, slightly sweet wine.

5) Merlot grapes. Another well known variety that makes an excellent red wine with many complex flavors - including cherry and honey overtones. Has less tannin than many other red varieties as well.

6) Muscadine grapes. These cold-tolerant grapes are very thick-skinned and can grow in many regions where other grapes don't thrive. Because of their suitability to many climates, they are quite popular with home winemakers.

7) Pinot Noir grapes. These grapes are very challenging to grow, but make an amazing wine. They are extremely sensitive of temperature conditions, and are best for those winemakers who don't mind a challenge.

These are just a sampling of some of the best grapes for wine, and if you are quite serious about growing wine grapes, I highly recommend you take a look at the Grape Growing System developed by Danie Wium which can teach you everything you need to know to create the best home vineyard possible.

Return to the How to Grow Grapes home page to read more articles about growing grapes for wine.