Ohio Wine Grapes: Catawba

Catawba grapes, a purple-reddish grape found in the Great Lakes region and along the East Coast of the United Sites, was discovered by accident in North Carolina in the early 1800s. The Catawba grape first arrived in Ohio, in the Cincinnati area, which was once the center of Ohio wine-making. It made its way to Northern Ohio in the early 1900s and found a climate that suited it, protected by the waters of Lake Erie.

Catawba grapes are used to produce sweet sparkling and still wines. They are also commonly used for juices, jams, and jellies. Among Ohio wineries that produce Catawba wines are Mon Ami Winery in Port Clinton, Ferrante and the Old Firehouse Wineries in Geneva, and Heineman Winery on South Bass Island.

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