by Craig Winchell » Thu Aug 22, 2013 9:31 pm
Muscadine is an interesting grape that is an entirely different species than the European wine grape. But there are plenty of different species- Vitis Labrusca, for instance , is the species from which the Concord grape variety was developed, a native American variety. Muscadine is Vitis Rotundifolia, also a native American variety. What makes it so unique is that it has an extra chromosome, so that it cannot interbreed with other varieties, cannot hybridize. Those with the same number of chromosomes can do so, and produce hybrids of various qualities, some of which were good enough to become instrumental in cold weather viticulture, others of which were best as rootstocks, and most of which are forgettable grapes of no distinction whatsoever. But as I say, Vitis Rotundifolia can't do it. But one thing it can do that no other grape varieties can is to survive and thrive in the hot, humid weather of the American south. some are fuzzy, some are smooth, all are very aromatic, perfumed and musky fruit which is not for everybody, but those who enjoy sweet, perfumed wines might enjoy a Muscadine wine. there was actually a wine industry in the south making such wine, which was something like Concord, but sickeningly perfumed.