Cuba's Artisanal Winemakers

[El Presidente]

 

I would love to see Ken judge Cuba's "Jaguar Clubs"  annual awards. 

I have never heard of "the Caribbean grape?" 

 

 

[Ken Gargett]

perhaps not. i'd bet dollars to doughnuts that the carribean grape is a table grape imported from spain centuries ago. the biggest vine i have ever seen was when staying in havana years ago - the thing went up and over the three story house. had bunches of red grapes - too far out to reach. the base of the vine was about a foot thick.

curious he talks of clean water. for what? they need to irrigate in cuba? 

[BrightonCorgi]

Any wine made in Cuba is artisanal at this point

[El Presidente]

The Caribbean Grape is known by a large number of names including baygrape, seagrape, seaside grape/plum, pigeonwood shore grape, bow pigeon, platter leaf, horsewood and hopwood. It is also called Columbian Kino, Jamaican Kino, Caracas Kino, and Coccoloba Kino. However, the scientific name is Coccoloba uvifera.

The Caribbean Grape or Seagrape is an uncommon fruit that only grows in sandy areas. You can find them growing on beaches, coastal scrub, and coastal grasslands. This little known Caribbean berry usually has a sweet taste but some may be somewhat acidic.

 

[Ken Gargett]

6 hours ago, El Presidente said:

The Caribbean Grape is known by a large number of names including baygrape, seagrape, seaside grape/plum, pigeonwood shore grape, bow pigeon, platter leaf, horsewood and hopwood. It is also called Columbian Kino, Jamaican Kino, Caracas Kino, and Coccoloba Kino. However, the scientific name is Coccoloba uvifera.

The Caribbean Grape or Seagrape is an uncommon fruit that only grows in sandy areas. You can find them growing on beaches, coastal scrub, and coastal grasslands. This little known Caribbean berry usually has a sweet taste but some may be somewhat acidic.

so nothing to do with grapes. still take the bet that winemakers there are using table grapes more than traditional varieties. 

[BrightonCorgi]

We have wild grapes growing all over the hood.  They're green grapes and tough beat the birds to grape.  I use the grape vines for flavor wood on the smoker.  If I could get whole cup of grape juice I'd be impressed, never mind making wine.

I wonder if the Caribbean grapes are similar to the grapes used in Colares Portuguese wines.  Also grown in sandy soils.