The Best Grapes to Grow in Your First Vineyard.

Under the California sunlight is not the only place where you can grow a successful vineyard. Nowadays, you can grow grapevines just about anywhere. Grapevines tend to be a very flexible plant and now will be seen growing in areas that are considered to have extreme climates. The novice should always start with grapevines that are known to do well in their own region.

When deciding on a grape variety, remember that your location will have everything to do with your grape growing experience. Did you know that a grape variety that is grown in California will taste much different than that same variety grown in France? As the taste of a grape is more related to the soil it grows in and the weather conditions it experiences than the variety of grape. You can find out which varieties of grapes grow well in your area by talking to local vintners.

Including hybrids there are now in excess of five thousand different varieties of grapes. In areas where the growing season is short there are varieties of grapes that can be grown, however it may be confined. For cooler climates specific varieties of grapes have been developed these also tend to be disease resistant. But, it is the climatic condition in your area that will mostly determine the varieties of grapes that you can grow successfully. Although many grape hybids have been developed to withstand cooler conditions not all of them will flourish in every area. To finally select the most suitable grape for you you will need to know the length of the growing season in your area. Frost free days is how the growing season is defined. Some of the different grape varieties require longer growing seasons to fully ripen.

Wine makers will normally use the vitis vinifera grape. But within this species there are many hundreds of different cultivars with there own discrete characteristics. Because the vitis vinifera has a tight skin makes it very suitable for the production of wine. Nearly all the world's wine production is produced from this grape species. There are also red grapes and white grapes. Wine is made from both colors. More famous red grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah Some of the white grape varieties include Chardonnay, Riesling, Sylvaner and Chenin Blanc. Vitis vinifera grapes come from the Mediterranean region, southwestern Asia, Spain, and central Europe. The Vitis labrusca grape which is indigenous grape of America is found in Canada and Eastern United States. Grape varieties that are most suitable for wine making are usually smaller than other grapes and contain seeds. They have thick skins, which is what is why they are so desirable since much of the aroma in wine comes from the skin. The grapes used in wine making will normally be very sweet. The juice of wine grapes is very rich in sugar up to twenty four percent.

Seventy one percent of the world's grape harvest is employed in wine making, but there are many other uses. Grapes are dried for cooking and served as fruit for eating. They can be made into jelly, vinegar, candy, grape seed extract, seed oil, and jam.

Jay is a grape growing enthusiast. For more great information on which grapes to grow, visit http://www.mygrapevinesecrets.com.