Catawba Grape Varietal Definition

By Gayot Editors

This was perhaps the earliest discovered native American grape, growing wild in Ohio and New York valleys, but it has since been surpassed by the Concord as the most widely planted native East Coast grape varietal.

It primarily is used to make off-dry or sweet red wines, with a pronounced foxy (a unique aroma/flavor profile variously described as wild and musky) labrusca flavor. A number of producers also utilize this grape to make sparkling wine.