Nature Kanagawa Isehara Grape Jelly

The history of grape cultivation dates back thousands of years. By around 3000 BCE, European grapevines were already being cultivated in their region of origin, including the Caucasus and the coastal areas of the Caspian Sea. Large-scale grape cultivation for winemaking also took place across many regions during the eras of ancient Greece and the Roman Empire.

Meanwhile, grapes that spread eastward appear to have reached China by the second century BCE.

During the Age of Exploration, Europeans began establishing colonies around the world and planted grapevines in places such as South Africa and Chile. As a result, several regions became famous wine-producing areas using the grape varieties introduced during this period.

European grapevines grow well in dry climates and alkaline soils. Although they are vulnerable to disease, rain, and cold weather, their thin skins, soft flesh, and high juice content make them well suited to winemaking.

Varieties unsuitable for wine production were gradually eliminated, leaving this species as the main type found in Europe. European grapevines can be broadly divided into three groups: Western, Black Sea, and Eastern varieties.

Western varieties include wine grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir.

American grapevines were developed from wild species native to eastern North America, selected and cultivated by European settlers. They grow well in humid climates and have excellent resistance to cold and disease. However, they are generally unsuitable for wine and are mainly cultivated for juice production.

Grapes are best grown in regions with average temperatures of approximately 10°C to 20°C. They prefer well-drained soil and locations with plenty of sunlight.

There are two main cultivation methods. One involves arranging the vines in straight rows like hedges, while the other uses overhead trellises along which the vines are trained. The row-training method is common in Europe, whereas the overhead trellis method is the standard approach in Japan.

Each grape flower contains both stamens and a pistil. Because grapevines are self-pollinating, a single vine can produce fruit.

The grapes closest to the branch ripen first, so the fruit near the top of a bunch tends to be sweeter.

Approximately 70% of the world’s grape production is used for wine, while about 25% is consumed fresh. China is the world’s largest producer, followed by Italy, the United States, Spain, and France.

In Japan, nearly 90% of grapes are grown for fresh consumption, while only about 10% are used for processing. Yamanashi Prefecture is the largest producing region, followed by Nagano, Yamagata, and Okayama prefectures, although domestic production has been declining in recent years.

Kyoho is the most widely cultivated grape variety in Japan, followed by Delaware, Pione, Muscat Bailey A, and Koshu.

Cultivation of Delaware grapes increased after the development of seedless-production techniques using gibberellin solution. However, their popularity has declined because of their small size, and in recent years, seedless cultivation has increasingly been applied to larger grape varieties.

Savor the taste of Isehara grown grapes with this delicious fruit jelly. Isehara is popular for its production of Delaware and Kyoho grapes.

Ingredients: Grapes, sugar, gelling agent (thickening polysaccharide), aciidulant, liquor

Size: 170 g