Delaware Grape ?

[Newbie77]

First post so please go easy

I've just returned from Japan where my wife dissuaded me from smuggling home a Delaware grape vine - they are the most amazing grape variety - slip skin and super super sweet.

I have searched everywhere and the only place i could find sells the seeds on ebay - a US seller for circa £100 for 100 seeds which is extortionate.

Does anyone have any links or suggestions as to where I can buy this variety or a close substitute?

Thanks!

[MelanieSW]

Hi, and welcome to the vine!

Delaware is not a variety I've come across, it seems indeed very hard to get hold of outside the US and Japan.

But as I'm also looking for grape options for the garden I was very intrigued by your question, and it looks like Delaware derives from fox grapes Vitis labrusca, and there is another similar sounding variety called Concord from the same family.

Concord appears to be slightly easier to get hold of here, although currently out of stock or "coming soon" at
https://www.silktree.co.uk/grapevines.html or https://jurassicplants.co.uk/product...vine-dark-blue

Oh just found another supplier that has it in stock (though picture is probably not right as it should be blue): https://www.agroforestry.co.uk/produ...vitis-concord/

(Please note that I've not ordered from either of them, so don't know how good their plants are)

[Newbie77]

Hi Melanie,

Thanks for that. Yes I suspect that it'll be nigh on impossible to find Delaware and so I think unless anyone here knows, I will have to substitute concord

Delware are about twice the size of peas and these concord look considerably larger - so if they taste the same/similar it's a winner.

[Snoop Puss]

Hello and welcome, Newbie77.

A very interesting question. I've had a look too and can't spot Delaware. But I have a vague feeling I've seen Concord in a nursery near where I live in Spain. If they have it for this planting season, I'll give it a go. Sounds like a winner. Thanks for the recommendation.

[ChingfordHarry]

Concord grapes are the traditional ones used in grape jelly across the Pond, as in "peanut butter and jelly sandwiches"

[Newbie77]

Hello and welcome, Newbie77.

A very interesting question. I've had a look too and can't spot Delaware. But I have a vague feeling I've seen Concord in a nursery near where I live in Spain. If they have it for this planting season, I'll give it a go. Sounds like a winner. Thanks for the recommendation.

My pleasure. It was so good i was well up for smuggling the Delaware vine to the UK

[Newbie77]

Concord grapes are the traditional ones used in grape jelly across the Pond, as in "peanut butter and jelly sandwiches"

It's strange to describe but it reminds you of the intense grape flavour that you get in certain canned drinks like Fanta - it's so grapey you might think it's artificial

[ameno]

It's strange to describe but it reminds you of the intense grape flavour that you get in certain canned drinks like Fanta - it's so grapey you might think it's artificial

I can vouch for that. I bought some grapes of a Vitis labrusca cross variety when I was 8n Japan before, and they are intensely sweet and do indeed taste almost artificial.
I'll be honest, I wasn't overly fond of them. The really lack the depth of flavor that V. vinifera grapes have. Same story with Welch's purple grape juice compared to proper red grape juice.
And then of course there is the peculiar aftertaste, which I can only describe as being like burnt rubber...

[ChingfordHarry]

It's strange to describe but it reminds you of the intense grape flavour that you get in certain canned drinks like Fanta - it's so grapey you might think it's artificial

or perhaps what you get with American "grape flavor candies"!

One of my fellow allotmenteers (originally from Madeira) has a (white) grape vine which produces large fruit with the same kind of flavour - interesting, but I'm not sure I'd want to eat too many of them! He doesn't know the variety

[Newbie77]

I can vouch for that. I bought some grapes of a Vitis labrusca cross variety when I was 8n Japan before, and they are intensely sweet and do indeed taste almost artificial.
I'll be honest, I wasn't overly fond of them. The really lack the depth of flavor that V. vinifera grapes have. Same story with Welch's purple grape juice compared to proper red grape juice.
And then of course there is the peculiar aftertaste, which I can only describe as being like burnt rubber...

Lol I don't recall any aftertaste akin to burnt rubber ! The Japanese are quite particular when it comes to fruit so I'm not sure they would be so popular.

or perhaps what you get with American "grape flavor candies"!

One of my fellow allotmenteers (originally from Madeira) has a (white) grape vine which produces large fruit with the same kind of flavour - interesting, but I'm not sure I'd want to eat too many of them! He doesn't know the variety

Yes maybe like American candies.

Maybe for me it was like a holiday romance. Very sweet and nothing like what you usually have at home

[Newbie77]

I just had some Vitoria grapes from Aldi and they were quite similar actually - maybe even better as less sweet.

I want to buy the vines but cant find any online - please let me know if you see any !

[Nicos]

Well, hopefully you have just found an alternative which you actually prefer!