Grapes

Grapes are the fruit taken from the woody grape vine, Vitis. There are hundreds of varieties, all with different levels of tartness or sweetness, and in colours that range from green through to red, purple or black. Whilst certain grape types are ideal for making wine, others are more suitable for eating as dessert grapes, or for drying to become raisins, sultanas or currants. The sweet juice of mature grapes can also be boiled down into a syrup that may be used as an alternative to honey.

Seedless Grapes

Seedless grapes tend to have much less tannin than seeded varieties, and slightly less flavour. Green seedless varieties include the Thompson Seedless and the smaller Perlette Seedless; both varieties are small, with a thin skin and a sweet, juicy flavour. Red seedless grapes include Flame, with its small, crisp berries and Ruby, which has sweet and firm fruit.

Muscat

Muscat grapes are large, seeded fruit, with richly perfumed flesh. They may be translucent green with a golden tinge (white muscats), scarlet to purple (red muscats) or deep blue (black muscats).

White Muscats: Muscat of Alexandria, Golden Chasselas, Almeria
Black Muscats: Gros Colmar, Royal, Ribier, Black Alicante
Red Muscats: Cardinal, Flame Tokay, Emperor

Labrusca

A hardy vine that produces grapes with a tough skin that is rich in pectin, ideal for making grape juice and grape jam. Varieties include Concord, Delaware and Catawba.