Varietal Character

Scuppernong
At home in the humidity of Florida, you yield more fruit than the Miami Gay Pride parade. Yes, you are quite an original; in fact, you are the original. Your family, Vitis Rotundifolia, were the first native Americans to yield wine. And the family name 'Rotunda-fullia' is so appropriate, with your plump clusters of fruit bearing greater resemblance to small apples than grape berries.

Appellations producing the most Scuppernong wines:

North Carolina (State Appellation)	Texas (State Appellation)
America (Country Appellation)	Georgia (State Appellation)
Florida (State Appellation)

Scuppernong (MUSCADINE, V. ROTUNDIFOLIA)

Scuppernong is a historically important Native American Muscadine variety. This bronze-skinned grape is a member of the Vitis rotundifolia family, which includes the first native grapes to produce wine. Scuppernong, which has a typically grapey, musky flavor, has been cultivated since 1809. However, wine is said to have been made from wild vine fruit by French immigrants in the mid-16th century. Known by many aliases, including Hickman’s Grape and Bullace, it is mostly grown in the southeastern and Gulf states of the U.S., where it can reach 18% fruit sugar. Ripening near mid-season, it produces sweet-finished white wines. Reportedly, it is very resistant to Pierce’s disease.