Vitis riparia Michx, also commonly known as River Bank Grape or
Frost Grape, is a native American climbing or trailing vine,
widely distributed from Quebec to Texas, and Montana to New
England. It is long-lived and capable of reaching into the upper
canopy of the tallest trees. It produces dark fruit that are
appealing to both birds and people, and has been used
extensively in commercial viticulture as grafted rootstock and
in hybrid grape breeding programs. The inflorescence is
paniculate 4–15 cm (1.5–6 in) long and loose, and the flowers
are small, fragrant, dioecious, and white or greenish in color.
V. riparia blooms in May or June and produces a small 6–15 mm
blue-black berry (grape) with a bloom, seeded, juicy, edible,
vinous in flavor, lacking the "foxy" characteristics of Vitis
labrusca, but usually quite sour and herbaceous. V. riparia has
a wide range and may deviate considerably in detail from the
above general description. White berries, perfect flowers, large
clusters, large berries, and sweet fru