Grape varieties that are not super sweet?

8 years ago

I'm looking for some varieties of grapes to plant that might be considered more "complex" or "interesting" to snack on fresh. I try to avoid high doses of sugar these days and have found that many of the apple varieties I planted.. are kind of sugar bombs. I don't want to make the same mistake with the grapes. I remember eating grapes as a kid in the woods that were not super sweet... any suggestions for cultivated varieties?

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ztom

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

If a fruit doesn't taste real sweet, it doesn't necessarily mean it is very low in calories. Concord grapes have about the same calories/sugars as red store bought seedless grapes, but the standard red seedless grapes taste sweeter. The main reason is because they have less acid/flavor. Acid counteracts sweetness but usually improves flavor. If you get both of them high, flavor is usually very good. Many of the highest rated heirloom apples are both high in acid and high in sugar (Ashmead's Kernel, Cox, most Russets) On the other hand, tart cherries have about 80% of the sugar/calories that sweet cherries do but have much more acid. So even though they still have 80% of the calories, the acid to sugar ratio is too high for most people to eat fresh (though some like them that way, myself included). Aside from being annoying to eat, I think Concord (labrusca) grapes are amazingly delicious, same with Muscadine and Muscat grapes. All are pretty hard to find in stores and are usually only available for a short time. I know Muscat grapes are not very cold hardy but some varieties are rated to work in zone 6b (ex: New York Muscat, Golden Muscat). Muscadines are not cold hardy at all. Muscadines taste a bit like Concord but are sweeter and have even thicker skins. The Muscat grapes I've tried were slip skin and have a florally taste, very refreshing, very unique. Muscadines and Muscat grapes are probably the two fruits that I wish I could grow up north more than any others.

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Comments (9)

Florida_Joe's_Z10a
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I'm with you on this. Most fruits in modern times have been bred to be exactly that...Sugar bombs. To me they're all nauseatingly sweet. I planted some native muscadine grapes but I'm afraid now that they too may be a selection picked for super sweetness.
Gred
8 years ago
Try the varieties designated as wine grapes. Many of them are more complex and less sweet than those designated as table grapes.
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codym17
8 years ago
Try Brianna, of the three vines I have I would consider it lower end of sugar and pretty complex. Reminds me of pineapple and has almost a chewy texture that is more appealing than it sounds. Only downfall is the seeds are a pain to get out when eating.
spartanapples
8 years ago
If you want tart grapes then pick them earlier! Some varieties get a lot sweeter if left to ripen longer on the vine.

You mention you liked wild grapes years ago. Wow that is tart! Some of the best cultivated varieties for that "wild type" flavor would be Beta and Valiant. They would give you the closest flavor to Vitis riparia that I have tried.

Valiant is very prone to mildew but makes an excellent jelly and juice product.

I have not yet tried "King of the North" but a friend who grows it claims it makes the best grape juice and far surpasses Concord or Fredonia for juice.

Years ago Aurore grape was grown where I live (SE WI) for wine making (French-hybrid). While never promoted for a table grape, it was very good to eat fresh.

Somewhat recently I grew Canadice seedless grape. If picked just after they turn pink they are not very sweet but crispy. Left on the vine for another 10 days they were superb if you wanted a sweeter grape.

An apple that is not sweet? This may sound odd but I enjoy my N.W. greening as a fresh apple. It certainly is not sweet and is considered really only to be a cooking apple. Yet when left on the tree to turn fairly yellow I find it pleasant to eat fresh. Haralson is a good hard, tart eating apple if it grows well in your area. King David would be a good one too. And Jonathan.

I also grow Northern Spy apple and while not really tart, the flavor is perhaps more acidic and complex. I would give some of these apple varieties a try if they grow well in your area.
Kevin Reilly
8 years ago
I wonder if you can grow muscadine where you are
garymc
8 years ago
I have some muscadine vines in St. Louis County, Missouri. There are hundreds of varieties of muscadines including one that is supposedly from the first vine discovered by Europeans. If you look at the muscadine varieties at Ison's, the sugar content of each variety is mentioned. Two random examples are cowart (17%) and Lane (19%.) I had some of mine tested this past fall and they were 13 and 14%.
Kevin Reilly
8 years ago
I think 6b is borderline for muscadine, might be killed some years by hard freeze. Not sure though. If they do survive they are very easy to manage no spray needed.
salmon1an
8 years ago
Checkout some of these grapes from the University of Arkansas breeding program. I especially love Reliance and Jupiter - the flavor is much better (more complex) than the sugar bombs.