What Is the Best Grapevine for a Trellis?

Jellies and Juice

• There are many varieties well-suited to making jellies and juice. "Concord" is the most widely grown commercial blue variety, and is famous for its juicy, hardy and productive fruit yields. Concord also comes in a seedless form. Concord can also be used for pie filling. "Reliance" is a red seedless variety that has tender, sweet and juicy berries that are great for making jelly and juices. As an added benefit, Reliance is disease-resistant and hardy.

Fresh Eating

• Many people like a seedless grape for fresh eating. There are many varieties to choose from if fresh eating will be your primary use for your grapevine. If you prefer green grapes, consider using "Himrod," "Interlaken Seedless" or "Lakemont." If red grapes are your favorite, "Canadice," "Vanessa" and "Reliance" are all red seedless varieties that would make an excellent choice for your trellis. "Glenora" is a black seedless variety that ripens early; has a tender skin; and is plump, sweet and juicy.

Making Wine

• If you want to try your hand at making wine, be sure to choose a variety for your trellis that is suitable for wine making. Many wine grapes are not cold-hardy, and this must be taken into consideration when selecting a variety. Three cold-hardy wine grapes include "Frontenac," "LaCross" and "St. Pepin." Frontenac is a blue-black berry that is produced on medium to large clusters that are slightly loose, minimizing berry splitting and bunch rot. LaCrosse is a medium white grape suitable for making rich, fruity white wine with a spicy aroma. St. Pepin is a sibling to LaCrosse, but ripens earlier.

Raisins

• If you love raisins, then you are in luck. There are several varieties that are well-suited to drying into raisins that would grow well on your trellis. Himrod and Interlaken green seedless varieties dry well, and produce a nice golden raisin. Himrod is a highly productive variety bearing clusters of loose, medium-sized berries with a crisp, sweet flavor. Interlaken is considered the best raisin-making grape. The amber-colored seedless berries are crisp, solid and sweet.