Mustang Grapes
Vitis Mustangensis
At Lehm Berg Winery, we use three varieties of the
wild mustang grapes - the red mustang, blush mustang, and white
mustang, also known as bird-free or Parsons mustang.The red mustang
is the most abundant, and it is the first to ripen, usually around
the first of July. This grape can be identified by slipping off
the shell of a ripe grape and checking the fleshy part of the inner
shell, which will be red.The grapes we use for our blush wines look
the same as the red on the outside, but the inner flesh does not
turn red. It will remain green. These grapes make a milder wine.
They also ripen several weeks later than the red. The blush grapes
seem to be more abundant in sandy soils.The white, or bird-free
mustang, grapes are rare. They usually appear as a bronze-white
when they can be found. These grapes make a wine with a slight orange
flavor. We only know of a few vnes, so our supply is limited. We
have started some vines, but they are a few years from bearing.
If you know of any of these vines, please contact us. We would like
to know more about this grape.