Why did the grape stop in the middle of the road?

........Because he ran out of juice...... ah mom jokes.

I am on a mission to try out as many grapes as possible on our property. I have a dream of building a gorgeous gazebo that acts like a grape arbour out by our pond. I imagine having brunch out there with a wonderful glass of wine, surrounded by grape vines - just like a winery. My little home away from home.

In order to get there, I need to figure out which grape vines grow the best on our property. Being in this Zone 3b coulee in Alberta, we have pockets of very cold air. I figure that if I can get some vines established, then when I take cuttings and continually propagate them over the next decade, I should find that magic grape that we love to eat && grows well.

As I have only recently planted 6 grape vines, I don't have much experience with them yet. We have the first 6 planted on the south side in a protected area against our lean to. The new ones that I am bringing in for 2019 will be planted on the west side of the lean to, snug against the raised beds (which should provide a bit of a wind break to their roots).

Planted in 2018:

Valiant Grape

Amount: 2 Plants
Zone: 2b
Height: 10 feet
Spread: 6 feet
Colour: Royal Blue
Harvest: Late Summer to Early Fall
Usage: Fresh Eating, Preserves, Juice-Making
Notes: Grows fast, should live for 20 years.
Read more about it here: Millcreek Nursery 

Paul's Grape

Amount: 1 Plant
Zone: 3
Height: unknown
Spread: unknown
Colour: unknown
Harvest: unknown
Usage: unknown
Notes: Purchased this from Saskatoon Berry Farm, it is named after the owner of the farm.

Marquette Grape

Amount: 3 Plants
Zone: 3b
Height: 10 feet
Spread: 6 feet
Colour: Deep Purple
Harvest: Mid Fall
Usage: Preserves, Juice-Making, Wine-Making
Notes: Grows fast, should live for 20 years, self-pollinating.
Read more about it here: Millcreek Nursery 

Planting in 2019:

Frontenac Grape

Amount: 2 Plants
Zone: 3a to 4a (depending on plant reference site)
Height: 8 feet
Spread: 6 feet
Colour: Navy Blue
Harvest: Mid Fall
Usage: Juice-Making, Wine-Making
Notes: Grows fast, should live for 20 years, self-pollinating.
Read more about it here: Millcreek Nursery 

Magenta Grape

Amount: 2 Plants
Zone: 4 (3 with good snow cover)
Height: unknown
Spread: 6 feet
Colour: Red Seedless
Harvest: Mid Season
Usage: Fresh Eating
Notes: Self-pollinating.
Read more about it here: Hardy Fruit Tree Nursery 

Brianna Grape

Amount: 2 Plants
Zone: 4 (3 with good snow cover)
Height: as high as its supports
Spread: 6 feet
Colour: Green
Harvest: Mid September
Usage: Fresh Eating, Wine-Making
Notes: Grows at medium rate, Self-fertile but better with pollinator.
Read more about it here: Double A Vineyards 

Prairie Star Grape

Amount: 2 Plants
Zone: 3 (2 with good snow cover)
Height: as high as its supports
Spread: 6 feet
Colour: Green
Harvest: Late September
Usage: Fresh Eating, Juice-Making
Notes: Self-pollinating.
Read more about it here: Hardy Fruit Tree Nursery 

Kay Gray Grape

Amount: 2 Plants
Zone: 3 (2 with good snow cover)
Height: as high as its supports
Spread: 6 feet
Colour: Green (almost golden)
Harvest: Late August to Early September
Usage: Fresh Eating
Notes: Impressive disease resistance and cold-hardiness, self-pollinating.
Read more about it here: Hardy Fruit Tree Nursery 

Somerset Grape

Amount: 2 Plants
Zone: 3
Height: as high as its supports
Spread: 6 feet
Colour: Red seedless
Harvest: Late August to Mid September
Usage: Fresh Eating, Juice-Making
Notes: Better than store grapes, self-pollinating.
Read more about it here: Hardy Fruit Tree Nursery 

Wishlist (Will obtain as soon as I can find them):

Hogan Grape

Desired Amount: 2 Plants
Zone: 3
Height: unknown
Spread: 6 feet
Colour: Blue
Harvest: Late August to Early September
Usage: Fresh Eating, Juice-Making
Notes: Extremely productive and very tasty
Read more about it here: Hardy Fruit Tree Nursery 

Beta Grape

Desired Amount: 2 Plants

Zone: 3

Height: 9 feet

Spread: 3 feet

Colour: Deep Purple

Harvest: Early Fall

Usage: Preserving, Juice-Making

Notes: Don't use for wine. Like a concord.

Read more about it here: Calgary Plants

Bluebell Grape

Desired Amount: 2 Plants
Zone: 3
Height: unknown
Spread: 6 feet
Colour: Blue / Black
Harvest: Early Season
Usage: Preserving, Juice-Making, Fresh Eating
Notes: Disease resistant.
Read more about it here: Double A Vineyard

Edelweiss Grape

Desired Amount: 2 Plants
Zone: 4
Height: unknown
Spread: 6 feet
Colour: Green
Harvest: Early Season
Usage: Fresh Eating, Wine-Making, Juice-Making, Preserving
Notes: Fast growing.
Read more about it here: Double A Vineyard

King of the North Grape

Desired Amount: 2 Plants
Zone: 3
Height: unknown
Spread: 8 feet
Colour: Blue / Black
Harvest: Mid Season
Usage: Juice-Making, Fresh Eating, Preserving
Notes: Very fast growing.
Read more about it here: Double A Vineyard

Minnesota 78 Grape

Desired Amount: 2 Plants
Zone: 3
Height: 20 feet
Spread: 3 feet
Colour: Red
Harvest: Mid September
Usage: Juice-Making, Wine-Making
Notes: Significant fruiting starts at 4 years.
Read more about it here: Sage Garden Greenhouses

Swenson Red Grape

Desired Amount: 2 Plants
Zone: 4
Height: 6 feet
Spread: 6 feet
Colour: Red
Harvest: Early September
Usage: Fresh Eating, Wine-Making
Notes: 3 years to fruit.
Read more about it here: Jung Seed

Worden Grape

Desired Amount: 2 Plants
Zone: 4
Height: unknown
Spread: 6 feet
Colour: Blue / Black
Harvest: Early Season
Usage: Preserving, Juice-Making, Fresh Eating, Wine-Making
Notes: Good disease resistance.
Read more about it here: Double A Vineyard

Resources:

Growing Grapes via MGGA
Grapes Zone 4 and Colder