Grapes

Grapes

There are many vineyards in Tennessee growing many different grapes varieties.

This page covers grapes used for winemaking. Below is a list of varieties, their cultural characteristics, winemaking potential and typical growers' experience in Tennessee.

Grape	Characteristics	Cold Hardy	Wines Made
Cabernet Sauvignon	French, dark purple, upright growth, uneven yields due to cold/disease, late ripening, grafted vines can die from crown gall.	TENDER	Dry Red
Cabernet Franc	French, dark purple, upright growth, uneven yields due to cold/disease, grafted vines can die from crown gall, more winter hardy than Cab Sauvignon.	SLIGHT	Dry Red
Catawba	American, pink to red, very vigorous, large yields, drooping growth habit, very widely planted.	HARDY	White or Pink, Dry to Sweet
Chambourcin	French Hybrid, dark purple, good yields, upright growth, very popular red for the eastern United States.	MODERATE	Dry Red
Chancellor	French Hybrid, dark purple, avg. yields, upright growth, crown gall prone, losing to Chambourcin.	MODERATE	Dry Red
Chardonel	Chardonnay-Seyval Hybrid, good yields, upright growth, hardy, wine tastes better than Seyval.	MODERATE	Dry White, Champagne
Chardonnay	French, white, frost prone from early bud break, upright growth, uneven yields due to cold/disease, early ripening, grafted vines can die from crown gall.	SLIGHT	Dry White, Champagne
Concord	American jelly grape, purple, ripens unevenly, good yields, drooping vigorous growth habit.	HARDY	Red, Rosé, Dry to Sweet
Cynthiana	Same as Norton, American, dark purple, very small clusters, average yield, late ripening, prefers sandy soils.	HARDY	Dry Red
Foch	French Hybrid, dark purple, small clusters, good yield, early ripening, tends to rot, unstable color.	HARDY	Red, Dry to Sweet
Delaware	American Hybrid, red, moderate vigor, good yields, fine blending wine.	HARDY	White or Pink, Dry to Sweet
Golden Muscat	American Hybrid, white, vigorous, good yields, Niagara type grapey flavor.	MODERATE	White, Dry to Sweet
Merlot	French, dark purple, upright growth, uneven yields due to cold/disease, early ripening, grafted vines can die from crown gall.	TENDER	Dry Red
Leon Millot	Twin of Foch, somewhat earlier ripening, somewhat more stable color.	HARDY	Red, Dry to Sweet
Muscadines	Southeastern, white & purple, bush-like growth, uneven yields due to cold, disease proof, very late ripening, crown gall, dies back in very cold winters.	TENDER	Sweet White & Red
Niagara	White Welch's grape, like a white concord.	HARDY	Sweet White
Norton	Same as Cynthiana - see above.	HARDY	Dry Red
Seyval Blanc	White French Hybrid, upright grower, being replaced by Chardonel, can taste vegetal in Tennessee.	HARDY	Dry White
Traminette	Hybrid of Gewurztraminer, hardier, more disease resistant, white grapes, vigorous upright grower.	MODERATE	White, Dry to Sweet
Vidal Blanc	White French Hybrid, upright growth, average yields and canopy, can make good Champagne.	MODERATE	White, Dry to Sweet
Vignoles	White French Hybrid, upright growth, average yields of high quality Riesling like grapes.	HARDY	White, Dry to Sweet
Viognier	White French grape, upright growth, average yields of high quality wine, success in Georgia and Virginia.	SLIGHT	White, Dry to Sweet
Zinfandel	Californian, dark purple, vigorous upright growth, uneven yields due to cold and rot, tight clusters with uneven ripening, grafted vines can die from crown gall and cold.	VERY TENDER	Red, Dry to Sweet & Blush wines

For further information on grape growing in Tennessee, please see www.tvos.org or contact Dr. David Lockwood, Tennessee Plant Specialist, at the University of Tennessee: dlockwood@utk.edu