Coronation

grape A grape is a fruit, botanically a berry, of the deciduous woody vines of the flowering plant genus ''Vitis''. Grapes are a non- climacteric type of fruit, generally occurring in clusters. The cultivation of grapes began approximately 8,0 ...

s (formally, Sovereign Coronation) are a hybrid variety of

table grape Table grapes are grapes intended for consumption as fresh fruit, as opposed to grapes grown for wine production, Juicing, juice production, jelly and jam making, or for drying into raisins. ''Vitis vinifera'' table grapes can be in the form of e ...

developed in

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

. Coronation grapes are popular throughout Canada, and are available during a short period in late summer and early fall. These grapes are characterized by their "vibrant blue-purple" colour, similar to the related Concord variety.

Development

Agriculture Canada's

Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre The Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre (previously known as the Dominion Experimental Farm at Summerland and Summerland Research Station) is an agricultural research centre in British Columbia, Canada. The centre has been historically important in ...

in Summerland,

British Columbia British Columbia is the westernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Situated in the Pacific Northwest between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, the province has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that ...

developed the Sovereign Coronation grape in the 1970s. This project was directed by Lyall Denby, as part of the Plant Breeding Program. The Coronation grape is a hybrid of two North American varieties: the black Patricia (not to be confused with the white Lady Patricia) and the Himrod.

Agriculture

Coronation grapes are a "fairly hardy variety" of grape and are most productive in relatively cool climates. The grapes ripen as early as late August, and are consequently available earlier than traditional varieties. Availability ranges from late August to early September in

Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...

and early September to early October in British Columbia. In 2007, an estimated 2.2 million kilograms of Coronation grapes were produced in Ontario. Despite having only been introduced to the Niagara region in 2000, in 2008 they were the most abundantly grown seedless table grape in southern Ontario.

Use in cuisine

The flavour of the Coronation grape has been variously described as a "sweet-and-sour taste that bursts in the mouth", "sophisticated nddeliciously sweet", a "mild sweet taste", "distinctive ndmusky", and "an odd, off taste". The grapes can be eaten fresh, or incorporated into

fruit preserves Fruit preserves are preparations of fruits whose main preserving agent is sugar and sometimes acid, often stored in glass jars and used as a condiment or spread. There are many varieties of fruit preserves globally, distinguished by the meth ...

, sauces and desserts. The raw grapes can be stored in a refrigerator for up to ten days, or frozen without loss of colour or flavour.

References

{{reflist, refs= {{citation , first1=Jennifer , last1=Bain , title=Coronation grapes rule , url=https://www.thestar.com/comment/columnists/article/248461 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080228040048/http://www.thestar.com/comment/columnists/article/248461 , archive-date=2008-02-28 , access-date=2009-09-22 , date=2007-08-22 , newspaper=

Toronto Star The ''Toronto Star'' is a Canadian English-language broadsheet daily newspaper. It is owned by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary of Torstar Corporation and part of Torstar's Daily News Brands (Torstar), Daily News Brands division. ...

, publisher=

Torstar Torstar Corporation is a Canadian mass media company which primarily publishes news. It is known for publishing the ''Toronto Star'', its flagship and namesake. Torstar was purchased by NordStar Capital LP, which is currently owned by Jordan Bi ...

, issn=0319-0781 , oclc=1767637 , quote=The Ontario Fresh Grape and Tender Fruit Growers, says this year's Coronation table grape harvest is estimated at 2,200 tons. Combined with 500 tons of the traditional varieties (Fredonia and Concord) that's up eight per cent from last year. {{citation , first1=Pamela , last1=Cuthbert , title=Consumers go for regally named grape , url=https://www.thestar.com/article/496244 , access-date=2009-09-22 , date=2008-09-10 , newspaper=

, publisher=

, issn=0319-0781 , oclc=1767637 , quote=They might have a fancy sounding name, but Sovereign Coronation grapes are the most commonly planted variety of seedless table grapes in southern Ontario. A descendant of the deep-blue Concord, they have their ancestor's characteristic sweet-and-sour taste that bursts in the mouth. {{citation , first1=Rita , last1=DeMontis , title=Purple reign , url=http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/Today/Food/2009/09/16/10929236-sun.html , access-date=2009-09-22 , date=2009-09-16 , newspaper=

The London Free Press ''The London Free Press'' is a daily newspaper based in London, Ontario, Canada. It has the largest circulation of any newspaper in Southwestern Ontario. History ''The London Free Press'' began as the ''Canadian Free Press'', founded by Willi ...

, publisher=

Sun Media Sun Media Corporation was the owner of several tabloid and broadsheet newspapers in Canada and the 49% owner of the now defunct Sun News Network. It was a subsidiary of Quebecor Media. On October 6, 2014, Quebecor Media announced the sale of ...

, location=London, ON, Canada , oclc=317945200 , issn=0839-0681 , quote=Virtually seedless with a deep, vibrant purple colour, these are not your average table grapes. {{citation , title=Ontario Coronation Table Grapes , url=http://www.ontariotenderfruit.com/index.php?state=category%7E5 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071116101736/http://www.ontariotenderfruit.com/index.php?state=category~5 , archive-date=2007-11-16 , access-date=2009-09-22 , year=2006 , work=Ontario Tender Fruit Producers website , publisher=Faye Clack Communications , location=Mississauga, ON, Canada , quote=Ontario Coronation Table Grapes - available August 18 to September 15. {{citation , title=Fresh Market Grapes , url=http://www.grapegrowers.bc.ca/freshmarket.shtml , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514012643/http://www.grapegrowers.bc.ca/freshmarket.shtml , archive-date=2008-05-14 , access-date=2009-09-22 , orig-date=2007 , date=2008-12-04 , work=British Columbia Grapegrowers Association website , publisher=British Columbia Grapegrowers Association , location=Grand Forks, BC, Canada , quote=The key fresh table grape variety now in the marketplace is the Sovereign Coronation grape. The Coronation grape was developed under the Plant Breeding Program directed by Lyall Denby in the 1970s. Created at the Agriculture Canada Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre, Summerland, the Coronation grape is a cross between native North American varieties Patricia and Himrod. {{citation , first1=Lon , last1=Rombough , title=The Grape Grower , url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RlcIZ2HbUvYC , access-date=2009-09-22 , year=2002 , publisher=Chelsea Green Publishing , location=White River Junction, VT, U.S.A. , isbn=978-1-890132-82-8 , oclc=49351733 , quote=Sovereign Coronation. (Patricia × Himrod) Summerland, British Columbia, Canada. This black grape seems to be at its best in very cool climates. Table grape varieties Agriculture in Canada