Popular Types of Grapes

Types of grapes

There are hundreds of types of grapes grown all over the world. Different types grow in different climate regions, thus no two are exactly the same. Grapes are usually classified in to two main groups - the Table and the Wine Grapes. In this article, five popular types of from either of the 2 main groups will be described briefly.

Table Grapes

· Concord Grapes

Concord grapes were grown in the Eastern United States during the 19th century. This type is commonly used in jams, jellies, grape juice, and sweets. Some companies also make wine from Concords, although the wine tend to have a slightly dark, musty flavor which some consumers dislike.


The color of Concords ranges from purple to black, and often appears to have been powdered with silver. They have a tart, robust, slightly musky flavor, and are not nearly as sweet as many of the Old World grapes. The skins of Concords are easily removed, tending to slip from the fruit inside, especially after a brief blanching. Like all grapes, they grow in densely clustered stems. Since concords are very hardy, they are grown in many colder climate regions.

· Perlettes

Perlette means "little pearl" in French because the berries are round, and light in color with an almost frosty green, translucent appearance. This variety was developed from a combination of many Eastern European grape varieties. Perlettes are seedless, mild, and sweet.

This green, seedless table grape can be eaten fresh, in salads, as a snack or as a dessert.

· Ruby Grapes

Ruby grapes are round, sweet, and tender-skinned. Ruby grapes have been commercially grown in California in the San Joaquin Valley since 1960s. They are abundant from August through February. People love to eat this type of grape for snacks.

Wine Grapes

· Chardonnay

The Chardonnay grape variety is a classic white wine grape grown all around the world. Chardonnay's popularity comes from it's success in the Burgundy and Champagne regions of France.

Chardonnay is by far the most widely planted grape crop in California, comprising over 40% of all white varieties consumed in the state in 2000. Chardonnay dominates not only California's cooler, coastal, quality wine regions, but also its hot, dry, bulk-producing areas

Chardonnay grapes produce a wine that has an excellent balance between sugar and acidity. This unique balance is probably the Chardonnay grape's greatest asset and one of the main reasons that Chardonnay wines are so incredibly popular

· Muscadine

The muscadine is native to the southeastern United States, found in the wild from Delaware to the Gulf of Mexico and westward to Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.

The fruit is born in small, loose clusters of 3-40 grapes, unlike the large, tight bunches characteristic of European and American grapes. The round-shaped grapes of about 1 to 1-1/2 inch fruits have a thick, tough skin and have oblong seeds. The fruit's color ranges from greenish bronze through bronze, pinkish red, purple and almost black. Sugar content varies from about 16% to 25% for the sweetest cultivars.

The Muscadine make an excellent dessert wine with a flavor reminiscent of muscat wines.