Pierce's Disease will kill most of those in 2-5 years I'll bet (and I know by personal experience for some of them).

Muscadines are a sure bet for good performance if you like them.

"Blue Lake" a bunch grape from the University of Florida breeding program has grown and produced like a champion for me at the 7/8 border in SC for at least two decades without a drop of spray.

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/fruit/piercegrapes/pdr.html

I would consider muscadines, how long would it take to actually get grapes from them? And how many plants would it take to have a decent amount of grapes?

can anyone recommend a good online source for them?

My Mars is doing very well here in 7b (saluda co) Couple of others to try - Vanessa is working for me, probably 30 vines or so, Cynthiana/aka/Norton is also supposed to do well in our area where Pierce Disease is prevalent. I also have half my vineyard in muscadines of all types as insurance...

Where would I get a blue lake to try? Thanks.

Ison's is close to you and probably the main muscadine nursey anyway. Their site and booklet should answer most of your questions. Remember that muscadines taste a bit differently and smell a lot differently than bunch grapes. Many southerners much prefer them, for the aroma if nothing else.

http://www.isons.com/index.html

"Blue Lake" is sometimes not all that easy to find outside Florida. A nursery in central Florida sells cuttings of it and other rarer (in the wider trade) UF releases. I need to find that source again anyway and will post it here in the next few days (soon I hope). (I'm in Richland Co. and can easily get you some free cuttings this winter. I've already promised some to a farmer in Chesterfield Co. They root very easily. I only have one vine so I can't make a general offer to the board.)

Also, I hate to tell you, but I lost a "Mars" vine I assume to Pierce's Disease. Even one or two muscadine types can get it, but most don't.

I hope to try a number more bunch grape types.

ah, sorry to hear about your loss of the mars..

question - is there a set of criteria to evaluate whether a vcine suffers from pierce's disease? How could I tell?

The cutting supplier I was thinking of (WGA, Seminole FL) seems to be out of business. Another supplier of similar grapes (link below) seems to ending business, so I am now at a loss for a suggestion.

http://www.badarmadillovineyard.com/

The link has a page on Pierce's Disease, with a picture of symptoms.

Price difference between Ison's and the badarmadillo is about 1/2 (Armadillo is $6 for a bare root plant and Ison's 2 year plus plants are $13. plus shipping on both.

How do you tell how old a plant is? I saw some at Lowes that are $12.95 and they seem like they have a very small main cane (not sure what it's called) but it's like a pencil. and are branched out a few feet.

rjinga, I am going to plant most of the varieties you have listed here in Hampton, GA. I am doing so on the advice of Greg Ison. I have done the research and yes I expect to see PD someday. According to Greg I would be more likely to see mildew problems than I would PD and that if and when PD shows up the vines will be several years old and I will be able to replace as needed.
I bought the place this spring and I'm still clearing bamboo just to make room for them. I also have two unknown bunch grapes on the place as well. Both of these are at least three years old and probably older than that. Neither fruited this year as they were severely neglected, I happened to find them by literally uncovering them when clearing honeysuckle and morning glory off of my fences.
Go ahead and try them, I am. If I'm wrong and lose them I can always put muscadines on the trellises.
BTW Bottoms nursery has a good selection as well.

Bad Armadillo will sell cuttings this winter. I am to call them in January to order.

"Grapes of Kath" sent me some nicely rooted plants a few weeks ago.

I have lost a half dozen grape selections from that list at top and am tired if the risk and loss. It is true, you get to eat some first.