Thanks Murky & Fruitnut. Hopefully I'll be able to find Canadice & Swenson Red locally.

I too agree that most vinifera taste good, and even some of the hybrids, such as Foch, which is also my favorite wine grape for food. Franktank, in WI you have to use hybrids, no vinifera. Even last year, terrible summer and all, Frontenac made it to full ripening. I think the hybrids are interesting grapes, with more fruit than vinifera, but more difficult to make into nice wine. As a matter of fact for wine I prefer Frontenac, but only if mixed with some CA grapes for tannins. But the hybrids will generally shine in blends, which is what I do. Scott, if you get organized, a really nice bottle of homemade wine can be had for less than $3. My blends are typically 60% MI -40% CA. CA may be $1/lb for the grapes, and MI, $60/lb (at least locally). So the wine for one 720 ml bottle comes to about $2.30 a bottle. You have to buy from someone who will destem them for you, so you take home just the juice. You have to have friends who will do it with you. Alone, it is a drag. You have to keep track of your bottles so you can reuse them over and over. I use 22 oz. beer bottles with beer caps, which I got from the refund bins. And you have to find a press at a garage sale for $10, though I have seen a number on craigslist for $100 or so. Plus spent grapes make great compost, the one I usually give to the tomatoes. The easiest way to make good wine is to ignore the cultivar and go for the ripest, highest Brix grapes. In the old days, when California Grape in Detroit had the crates outside, it was easy enough: you'd just buy the grapes with the most flies and wasps on. With ripe grapes, it is easy to make good wine, far easier than to make good beer.

WE just harvested our two grapevines but not for wine - we just make juice with a steamer. They are Interlaken, okay for eating, probably not that great for wine. This year the vines were loaded with fruit but when I sampled, not very sweet. I kept waiting for them to sweeten, but finally the raccoons got most of them! They left a bit for us.

Suggest that you go on-line to the very reliable J.E. Miller Nursery catalog which sells an excellent selection of wine grapes for your area. They are located in Canandaigua, NY. I have dealt with them for years. A phone call to them might be helpful in making a selection. I note that one winery has opened recently in your area named Pioneer Valley Winery. Have you visited there and discuss grape varieties with them? As an old time wine maker who used to live in grape country I just purchased the freshly pressed grape juice from a local winery every fall. It was an easy way to have some in the freezer for breakfast drinking and the rest we used for making wine. BTW...Anyone looking for a fall trip should plan on traveling through New York's Finger Lakes Region, especially taking the Wine Trip ride around Keuka Lake. There is a winery at every turn in the road offering samples. Lot's of fun and beautiful scenery. Put it on your to-do list.