Concord Grape Varieties

Traditional Concord

• Concord grapes are also known as slip-skin, or Labrusca types. They feature a thick, firm skin that easily separates from the pulpy interior. Labrusca varieties are heavily fruity, and Concords are the most popular table grape in New York, where they are highly adaptable to most soil types. You can easily identify Concord grapes by their navy-blue to black skin and large berries containing multiple seeds. According to an article by Winston Craig, MPH, PhD, RD, on the Vegetarianism and Vegetarian Nutrition website, Concord grapes are also full of polyphenolics, which are known to contain cancer preventative properties.

Catawba

• Used mainly for creating dessert wines and fruit juices, the Catawba grape is a sweet and hearty growing slip-skin grape featuring a fruity and markedly spicy Labrusca flavor. Catawba vines grow prevalently in New York and require a longer growing season than typical Concords. Catawba grape crops are particularly sensitive to atmospheric pollution and highly acidic soils. These grapes typically show signs of stress through their foliage. The vines, however, remain hearty and produce abundant grapes, especially in New York, where they are commercially grown.

Fredonia

• Grown primarily in the northeastern and midwestern United States, Fredonia grapes are large black Concord-labrusca types used for juice production and table-grape sales. Fredonias ripen two to three weeks earlier than traditional Concords and feature a milder flavor that is considerably weaker than that of the traditional Concord. Although Fredonia grapes are especially vulnerable to downy mildew, they are able to grow as heartily as traditional Concords with regular pruning.