UGA Cooperative Extension
Bryan County Extension
Agriculture & Natural Resources
Southern Grapes
Some men play golf. Some men go hunting. In fact a big time hunter can't wait for hunting season. He will spend nine months of the year preparing for the three months of pure enjoyment at the hunting camp. And a golfer spends all week looking forward to that Saturday game of golf. I've been through the phases of hunting and sports. Been there, done that!
At this stage of my life, one of the things I really enjoy doing in my spare time is making wine. This pastime seems to bother my wife a lot more than my former hobbies. That may be because I am right under her feet and also I guess the sticky mess that I make in the kitchen is more than she can stand.
This glimpse into my life was prompted by an article I received from Dr. Gerald Krewer, Extension Horticulturist, University of Georgia. The article was about muscadine grapes and the bronze colored varieties old folks called scuppernongs. Both of these grapes have been around for ages. They are a part of my child hood. I always ate these grapes knowing that I would have a huge stomachache caused by the sweet juicy pulp inside the leathery outer shell. I later found out that this just wasn't true. My problem was that I ate so many of the grapes, my digestive tract just couldn't handle all the stress.
Research has discovered that southern grapes are one of natures healthiest foods. Betty Ector, Researcher at Mississippi State University, states that the grapes are richer in fiber, zinc, manganese, iron and calcium than most other fruits. Ms. Ector also found that they are one of the worlds richest source of ellagic acid (thought to help prevent cancer) and the phenolic compound, resveratrol. High levels of resveratrol are found in both fresh muscadines and processed muscadine products. It is thought to be an important part of the "French paradox" in which French people with rich diets who drink red wine have much less heart disease. Studies have determined that resveratrol is also a potent anti cancer compound. The substance switches off a protective mechanism in cells and, as a result, makes invading cancer cells vulnerable to the body's natural defenses.
This is the most important part of this article for me, The National Institute of Health, also found that muscadine wines can contain up to seven times more resveratrol than regular wines. But remember, any type of alcohol should be consumed in moderate amounts.
Fresh muscadines are available from August to mid-October. Since the University of Georgia grape breeders developed large-fruited types such as "Fry" and "Summit," muscadines have become available in grocery stores and many farm markets. Nearly all Southeastern wineries also produce muscadine wine.
Muscadines are one of the easiest fruits to grow with few diseases and pests. If you haven't tried muscadine grapes, buy a package and see if you like them, or as I put it( here's to good health.)
