more silly questions...

[newtowine]

regarding the grapes at the grocery store(red&white)...what kind are they? have they ever been made into wine?

(the following I posted on the Home Winemaking board, but it never got answered):

Re: Chardonnay, Riesling,Gewurstraminer, Pinot Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and others

...have any of you actually eaten/tasted each of these grapes?...How are they?...just curious...

thanks...

[Jerry D Mead]

Too many different varieties sold at the supermarket to answer specifically. In general, table grapes have been bred and selected over the years for just that purpose...the table. They tend to be larger berried than wine grapes, sweeter and usually lower in acidity. Yes, they will make wine, but not wine of much character or complexity.

I have tasted most of the wine grapes in the vineyard...and while they taste good, the berries are very small (once again generally speaking), tart even when fully ripe, and there's a much larger skin to juice ratio because of the size of the berries...which contributes to the character of the wine made from them and will also have you rushing to the john if you eat many of them.