Wild Grapes?

[Scott M]

I've found a bunch of wild grapes and last year most of them looked ready in September. Anyone have experience with them? Best way to prepare them, when they are ready, etc.

[south_metro_fish]

I remember my grandpa making wine out of them one time. I would think they would have lots of tannins in them with them being so dry and sour. Other then that I don't know what you would do with them.

[reinhard1]

i have wild grapes on my property and i tried to make jam one time. now i dont realy know the difference from one grape from another but my grapes were so full of seeds i gave up. i do eat them late in the fall when they turn deep blue and soft, but i still have to spit out seeds. good luck.

[hydro]

They have a very powerful and strong flavor, not much juice, and as said above LOTS of tannic acid.

That said, they are also very tasty when used right. A friend of mine used to make wine out of them and found that if he re-used the same grapes for a second batch of wine, it tasted much better than the first batch.

I have made jelly from them and it tastes very good, just hard to get it to set. Last year I mixed wild grape and apple juice 50/50 and the jelly turned out excellent. Just remember, however you use them, a little goes a long way.