American hybrid grown extensively in the Finger Lakes region of New York state and also around the Great Lakes. Requires a mild fall to acheive full ripeness, and even then can produce wines of high acidity. When ripe the Catawba produces pink wines that are still, frizzante or fully sparkling, but almost always sweet. This is attributed to the grape's heritage (Catawba is a cross of Labrusca and Vinifera) but also to a desire by the winemaker to eliminate the common "foxy" character of the wines with residual sugar. Ice wine versions are also popular.
Black