Those who want the cardiovascular benefit of red wine without the alcohol can get their nutrition from grape juice. The United States grows several juice grape varieties.
Often overshadowed by their delicate wine making cousins, grapes grown primarily for juices are popular in vineyards in the United States. Recently, studies have shown that drinking grape juice, particularly purple grape juice, can have the same health benefits as drinking red wine because of the high content of antioxidants called flavonoids which have been shown to increase good cholesterol and lower the risk of clogged arteries. Also, drinking grape juice has been linked to cancer and Alzheimer’s prevention. These findings on grape juice are good news for people who want the cardiovascular benefits of red wine without the alcohol. Let’s investigate three popular varieties—Concord, Niagara and Delaware.
Concord
Concord grapes are by far the most popular American grape, and are hardier than their European counterparts. They are a slip-skin variety grown in northern regions and in the Midwest. Concord grapes have a sweet, yet sometimes tart flavor. They can be used as wine grapes, but are most often used for jelly, jam and juice making. Most, if not all, purple grape juice you find at the supermarket comes from concord grapes and the largest maker of grape juice is Welch’s. The popularity of this variety is growing again due to the recent studies stating that drinking concord grape juice, like drinking red wine, can prevent some times of cancers, and other terminal diseases.
Niagara
Niagara grapes are the most popular white grape grown in the United States. They were developed in Niagara, New York by two growers who crossed the Concord grape with a white variety called Cassidy. Like Concord grapes, Niagara grapes are also slip skin. Niagara grapes can be used for winemaking, but are most commonly seen as juices. They have a light, pleasant aroma with a sweet flavor that is sometimes described as “foxy.” White grape juice grew in popularity because of its milder flavor and lighter color, which is less likely to stain than a purple grape juice.
Delaware
Delaware grapes are part of the family known as “fox grapes” and are sort of a blend between red and white grape varieties. They are pinkish in color, and have a sweet aroma. Delaware grapes are much smaller in size than both Concord and Niagara grapes which is what makes them sweeter and what causes them to ripen faster. Like Niagara and concord grapes, Delaware grapes can be used for winemaking, and are often used to make sweet, dry icewine. However, Delaware grapes also a great for sparkling wines that are white to light pink in color.
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