The Labrusca grape type, also known as "Native American" grapes have a varying reputation depending on who you ask. The wine novice will tell you how wonderful the Native wines are, while the more sophisticated wine consumer may have never allowed Labrusca wine to touch his or her lips. Labrusca wines are known for being sweet and grapey- a term called "foxy" often applies to describing these wines.

Native American grapes are the hardiest of the three types of grapes grapes grown in the Finger Lakes. These grapes, aside from being very cold hardy, are also more resistant to root rot diseases like phyloxera and even possibly less prone to damage from certain insects. However, as most oenophiles will tell you, the lowly labrusca grape, generally speaking, doesn't make the best wine. Regardless, labrusca grapes are grown in great quantities around Finger Lakes for other reasons, primarily- grape juice! Many Finger Lakes grape growers have lifetime contracts with Welches. Native American grapes are also perfect for making jams, jellies and the famous "Grape Pie"! If you haven't ever had a Finger Lakes Grape Pie, you are missing something wonderful!

Here's some of the Native American varieties of grapes you can find around the Finger lakes:

Concord
Catawba
Diamond
Delaware
Elvira
Ives
Niagara

This list is in progress...

If you grow a Native American grape in the Finger Lakes that's not listed here, we would like to hear about it! Please let us know!