# Are There Any good Fruit Wines? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** wine\ **Created:** [June 26, 2008, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-fruit-wines/454304 "2008-06-26T14:08:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-fruit-wines/454304/1 "2008-06-26T14:08:22Z")
many years ago, i had a bottle of mixed (grape) shiraz and cherry wine-it was from a small vinyard in Sonoma. it was fantastic! Are there any really good fruit winces? i had some pear "champagne"that was quite good. Anyone have some good labels to sample? ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-fruit-wines/454304/2 "2008-06-26T14:24:30Z")
There are no good fruit wines in Great Debates. ---
**Author:** ![Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/46a35a/32.png) [@Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walker_in_Eternity)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-fruit-wines/454304/3 "2008-06-26T14:30:00Z")
Personally I like elderberry wine, damson’s not too bad either. I would recommend both. Strawberry is ok, but too sweet for me. I tend to like red wine with lots of tannins. Other than that you can make wine out of almost anything, when I was younger my parents made a wine from rose petals and it was great, it even (somehow) developed bubbles like champagne. I tend to buy elderberry wine from [here.](http://godshillisleofwight.co.uk/isle-of-wight-cider/postpacking.php) But I suspect if you live in the USA shipping costs would be astronomical. However, if you look at the wine section it will give you a good idea of the types of wine available. I would assume similar wines are produced in the USA. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-fruit-wines/454304/4 "2008-06-26T14:45:04Z")
**Are There Any good Fruit Wines?** “Philip is **so** insensitive!” ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-fruit-wines/454304/5 "2008-06-26T14:52:28Z")
Well, yes, but fruit (other than grapes) are usually turned into other kinds of spirits: hard cider, for instance, or orange liqueur. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-fruit-wines/454304/6 "2008-06-26T15:05:14Z")
Blackberries make a very nice wine, but I am familiar only with homemade varieties. ---
**Author:** ![Gaudere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@Gaudere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaudere)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-fruit-wines/454304/7 "2008-06-26T15:17:51Z")
[Moderator Hat ON] To Cafe Society. [Moderator Hat OFF] ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-fruit-wines/454304/8 "2008-06-26T15:25:14Z")
I had two good blueberry wines in Maine. I don’t know that I’d drink them every day, but they were better than “novelty”, if that makes sense. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-fruit-wines/454304/9 "2008-06-26T15:41:33Z")
Nashoba Valley Winery in Massachusetts makes several good fruiit wines which are rather dry. (Nashoba Valley Winery is _nowhere_ near Nashoba Valley Ski Area, which confused the heck out of me. Also, I don’t recommend them if you’re ghoing apple picking. But their wines are great.) There are Loganberry wineries in Washington State that turn out pretty good wines. Again, not “fruity”, as you’d expect. If someone hid the label, you might think it some sort of grape wine. The Cape Cod winery makes all-grape wines and grape-cranberry blends. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-fruit-wines/454304/10 "2008-06-26T16:13:29Z")
Why is cider (which love so much) not a wine? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-fruit-wines/454304/11 "2008-06-26T16:30:27Z")
No, they are evidence of man’s inhumanity against man. 🙂 Most are _way_ too sweet for most wine drinkers, but there are a few relatively try versions, like the ones from Nashoba. Still, the wines aren’t very complex and will never be confused for fine wine. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-fruit-wines/454304/12 "2008-06-26T16:49:36Z")
> [@](#): > > Why is cider (which love so much) not a wine? I don’t know. Nashoba Valley (in my post above) makes, among other fruit wines, an apple wuine. It is wholly different in look, color, and alcohol content from cider. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-fruit-wines/454304/13 "2008-06-26T16:54:08Z")
So a nice British cider is not a wine because it is too sweet? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-fruit-wines/454304/14 "2008-06-26T17:05:31Z")
> [@](#): > > So a nice British cider is not a wine because it is too sweet? Beats me. I never said so. And I don’t know British cider. I do know the apple wine I’ve had is very different from American cider, and I don’t know how it got that way. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-fruit-wines/454304/15 "2008-06-26T18:12:07Z")
> **[Hard Cider Wine Information](https://wineintro.com/types/cider.html)** > > Apple Orchards and Apple Cider in New England > [@](#): > > While the fruit wines are very tasty and worthy of mention, it is the cider that becomes popular in the fall season. Cider is a relative of wine, with almost as ancient a history. Cider was common in England back before Christ, where apple trees were worshipped as sacred. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-fruit-wines/454304/16 "2008-06-26T18:19:03Z")
I notice, though, that that site doesn’t explain the difference between Cider and Fruit Wine, if there is one. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-fruit-wines/454304/17 "2008-06-26T19:07:18Z")
I will be back in the US in a couple of weeks. I will find a store that has Woodchck brand apple (and Pear!) cider. Woodchuck. Look for the marmoset on the label! ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-fruit-wines/454304/18 "2008-06-26T19:30:58Z")
[QUOTE=CalMeacham] I notice, though, that that site doesn’t explain the difference between Cider and Fruit Wine, if there is one. [/QUOTE] I know, but since fruit wine is just wine made with fruits other then grapes, there should be a difference. I believe most fruit wines still use a grape base with added juice from other fruits. Cider is all apples. ---
**Author:** ![Elysium](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3be4f8/32.png) [@Elysium](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elysium)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-fruit-wines/454304/19 "2008-06-26T20:05:04Z")
The Plymouth Colony Winery here in MA ([http://www.plymouthcolonywines.com/](http://www.plymouthcolonywines.com/)) has a GREAT cranberry wine and a cranberry mead they call Red Gold. So good! I have to check when they open for the season and stock up. ETA: Paul, Woodchuck is a favorite of mine. Anything pear flavored is rare to see, so I likes. Thankfully one can find it often here and sometimes even on tap. That’s usually just the cider though. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-fruit-wines/454304/20 "2008-06-26T20:07:38Z")
[QUOTE=Paul in Saudi] I will be back in the US in a couple of weeks. I will find a store that has Woodchck brand apple (and Pear!) cider. Woodchuck. Look for the marmoset on the label! [/QUOTE] If you can find it, get yourself some [Ace Pear Cider](http://www.acecider.com/acepear.html) (aka perry). It’s righteous. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-fruit-wines/454304.md?page=2)