muscadines

Muscadines are a group of grapevines in the species Vitis rotundifolia, native to the southeastern United States. They are distinct from European wine grapes (Vitis vinifera) in morphology and flavor; muscadines have thick skins that slip easily from the pulp, and berries that are typically smaller and more fleshy. Fruit colors range from bronze and green to purple-black. The vines are well adapted to hot, humid summers and are relatively tolerant of several pests and diseases, including phylloxera, making them a common crop in the southeastern region.

Muscadines are consumed fresh when ripe and are widely used to make juice, jelly and preserves, as well as a range of wines, from light, sweet offerings to fortified styles similar to port. The Scuppernong is a traditional bronze cultivar that gives its name to a group of muscadines, and Noble is a widely grown white-fruited cultivar.

Commercial production concentrates in North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi, with smaller plantings elsewhere in the Southeast. Vines are typically trained on trellises and require winter pruning; harvest occurs in late summer to fall. The fruit is valued for its tannic skins and intense flavor, and the species is notable for high polyphenol content relative to many other grape species.