Mt. Hope Pink Catawba

[Thomas]

Yep, Catawba is a grape on which the early American wine business was built--it was even used in the first commercial wineries at Anaheim, in California, circa 1849 or 50.

It came into use before that in the Midwest and the Northeast. In fact, it was the first so-called Native American wine that Jefferson tasted and liked, not long before he died; it was presented to him by the then 'father of wine' J. Adlum. From there, it made its way into Ohio and a fellow named Longworth made it the first successful commercial wine in the country, both sparkling and still.

Catawba was discovered growing in North Carolina around 1801. It's not a true American vine: it's a field hybrid cross between the European and American species--it's classified as a Vitis labruscana.

It was, and still is I think, the basis for Great Western (champagne) sparkling wine. Its grown all around me, and I used to grow it. Develops into a truly sweet, grapey product when ripening. It also makes great late harvest ripening. I trained my first standard poodle using overripe Catawba grapes as treats.