Grape Vines That Make Red Wine

Climate

• Temperate regions like California's Mediterranean climate are productive wine growing regions. Cold hardy grapes are grown in Washington State, upstate New York and Vermont. Muscadine grapes are indigenous to the Southern United States and are better suited for hot, humid climates.

Cold Hardy Cultivars

• Swenson Red, Landot Noir and Frontenac are hardy to cold climate varieties and are used to produce red wine; Swenson Red is hardy to 25 Fahrenheit degrees below zero. This variety is similar in flavor to California wines. Frontenac is a French hybrid capable of surviving below freezing temperatures. Landot Noir is cold hardy and disease resistant. Vineyards in upstate New York and New Hampshire grow this variety.

High Temperature Varities

• Muscadine grapes grow loosely on the vine. European and American hybrids tend to grow in larger, tight clusters. With a higher sugar content that other varieties muscadine grapes are used for jams, jellies, juice and dessert wine. Red wine varieties that are capable of growing throughout warm Southeastern United States summers are Regale and Noble.