In wine speak, we talk about grape varieties. What are these varietals?

When we speak about wine grapes we often talk about grape varieties. This is the specific type of grape or grapevine. There is the Pinot Noir grape. There is the Zinfandel vine.

A variety is a subdivision of a species. Wines are usually made from grapes that belong to the species vinifera. This is a subdivision of the genus Vitis. The originis of the vinifera species can be traced back to Europe and western Asia.

Grapes are one of the oldest cultivated fruits. Hieroglyphics show that Egyptians were involved in grape and wine production, and the early Romans were known to have developed new varieties. And, of course, the grape is mentioned in the Old Testament as the "fruit of the vine."

The Vitis labrusca is native to North America. When the viking explorer Leif Ericson landed on the continent he found grapes in abundance on the east coast. It led him to name the land "Vinland."

Some wine is made from grapes of the Vitis labrusca. Concord grapes are perhaps the best known. They are used for wine and jelly. While the flavor of these grapes is excellent for juice, it is not as conducive to quality wine.