From crisp green Autumn King to deeply colored Autumn Royal, late summer and early fall bring an especially good selection of California table grapes to the farmers market.
September is a wonderful time to rediscover grapes.
At the farmers market, grapes are not simply “red,” “green,” or “black.” Individual varieties differ in size, color, texture, sweetness, and sometimes even aroma. Some are delicately flavored and exceptionally crisp; others become richer and sweeter as they ripen on the vine.
This season, look for grapes from Schletewitz Family Farms and Rancho Padre. The current selection includes six varieties worth getting to know.
Autumn King: These impressive late-season green grapes are hard to miss. The berries are unusually large, elongated to oval, with firm, juicy flesh and a clean, sweet flavor. Autumn King is seedless and pleasantly crisp without being overly tart—a terrific eating grape when you want something refreshing.
Autumn Royal: Large, oval berries with striking deep purple to nearly black skins give Autumn Royal its dramatic appearance. The flesh is firm and crisp, with a juicy, straightforward sweetness. Despite their substantial size, the grapes are generally seedless and have an excellent snap when fresh.
Red Flame: One of the best-known red seedless grapes, Flame Seedless has medium-size, round berries ranging from rosy red to deeper crimson. The texture is especially crisp and juicy, with a lively sweetness that can have just enough acidity to keep it refreshing. It is an easy grape to snack on and an especially pretty addition to a fruit or cheese board.
Melissa Seedless: Melissa is a green seedless grape with large, oval berries that can deepen from pale green to golden-yellow as they fully ripen. Sweet and juicy, it is particularly interesting because ripe fruit can develop a subtle Muscat-like floral aroma and flavor. If you enjoy grapes with a little more personality, this is one to seek out.
Thompson Seedless: The classic green grape—and the variety most closely associated with California raisins—Thompson Seedless has relatively small to medium, elongated berries with thin green skin that may become golden when fully ripe. The flesh is tender and juicy, with a mild, clean sweetness. At the farmers market, fully mature Thompson grapes can be considerably more flavorful than their supermarket counterparts.
Vintage Red: A less familiar variety worth discovering, Vintage Red produces medium-to-large seedless berries with an elongated oval shape and rich red coloring. The flesh is firm and crisp, with a pleasing, uncomplicated sweetness. It is a late-season grape developed to hold its texture beautifully as the grape season moves into fall.
A Quick Grape Tasting Guide
If you want to compare varieties, try tasting several side by side. You may be surprised by how different they are.
For the crispest bite: Autumn King or Autumn Royal
For classic juicy sweetness: Red Flame
For the most aromatic flavor: Melissa Seedless
For a mild, delicate grape: Thompson Seedless
For a rich late-season red grape: Vintage Red
For a cheese or charcuterie board: Autumn Royal, Melissa Seedless, or Red Flame
A good tasting tip: let the grapes come closer to room temperature before sampling. Very cold fruit can mute some of the aroma and flavor.
And Don’t Forget the Raisins
Fresh grapes aren’t the only vineyard treat arriving at the farmers market. Schletewitz raisins are available now — and they are nothing like the small, dry raisins many of us grew up buying at the supermarket.
These raisins are remarkably large, plump, and deeply flavored, with a soft, moist interior that makes them almost feel like a different fruit altogether. Drying concentrates the grape’s natural sweetness, but because the fruit retains such a luscious texture, the result is rich and satisfying rather than simply chewy.
They are wonderful eaten straight from the bag, but they also deserve a place on cheese boards, in oatmeal and granola, in fall baking, and anywhere you would normally reach for dried fruit.
If supermarket raisins have never particularly excited you, these may change your mind.
