Harvest in Lake County has been going on for some time now. Not all grapes are harvested and those that are not are left on the vines. What happens to them? Bear, wild boars, deer and turkeys certainly take their share. The grapes that survive shrivel up and eventually will become raisins. How do these raisins compare to store bought raisins?
Just as store bought grapes can’t compare to the sweetness, aroma and taste of fresh wine grapes, wine grape raisins are also better. While touring through the vines at Langtry Estate and Vineyards, we stopped to pick some Merlot raisins. Wow! They were great. High sugar levels and more taste than mass-produced raisins. I wish I had the time to pick a couple of cups to make oatmeal raisin cookies. In the photo, the grapes in the lower right are raisins. The others are on their way. Some winemakers will use raisins in the must in order to increase the sugar levels.
If you live near a vineyard ask if you may stroll through the vineyard after harvest. See if you like wine grape raisins.
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