The different varieties of grape are not well known to me, despite having spent significant amounts of time in the California wine country, because the grapes offered in stores are most likely to be tagged as either "red grapes" or "green grapes." Occasionally, there will be a variation, when "black" is thrown into the mix. Why all the vagueness when there hundreds of types of grape grown in the world? Perhaps the stores don't want t set the bar too high. Some grapes are definitely better than others.
These grapes are a type of muscat grapes, grown in California. They are known for being exceptionally sweet and are often used to make dessert wines. Despite the fact that they are often considered to be the world's oldest cultivated variety of the fruit, I rarely see them in stores. It's a shame because in addition to being sweet, they are incredibly light and juicy, with a taste and aroma that remind me distinctly of tropical fruits like lychee.
The point of this all is to take a chance on grape varieties that you don't buy that often when you see the in stores or at a farmer's market. You might just be pleasantly surprised!
[Photo by Nicole Weston]
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