Grapes, grapes, grapes

And the winner is…… Sugar Bomb!

Each year we grow several hundred new varieties of grapes in cooperation with Jeff Bloodworth and Gardens Alive. These grapes are the future of the market, and we are excited to be able to try each of them to decide if they go to the next level. Cold hardiness, taste, bite feel, disease and insect resistance, bunch sizes and wet or dry stems are all a part of our decision process.

This is the second year for the first batch of grapes we tried, and after spending time tasting and evaluating the plant, we have decided to move forward with a grape we are calling “The Sugar Bomb”. With a Brix around 19, this is one the sweetest grapes we’ve ever tasted, it has a great bite feel (Like a Thompson seedless) and the pulp is easily chewable.

I suspect in ten years we will look back at this grape and laugh given the pace of innovation we are currently undergoing here, but for now, we will be planting 5,000 vines of TSB, starting next spring. Stop in and try some next fall! I think you will be shocked at what you taste!