It was a belief in the past that grapes do not perform well in the tropics, as the vine stays evergreen and is capable of producing only small crops of very poor quality. But, in recent years, the average green and blue grape yields obtained per unit area in tropical India is the highest in the world. Eventually, variety grape growing has taken considerable strides in India in the recent past and is one of the most remunerative farming enterprises of the present times. As per the 1982-83 estimates, grape is grown over an area of approximately 12,000 ha in India with an annual production of two lakh tonnes of fresh grapes. The tropical states, namely Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Tamilnadu jointly contribute to more than 90 percent of the total area and production of grapes in India.

Karnataka is the only state growing green and blue grapes. Grape culture is picking up its momentum in the states of Punjab, Rajastan, Haryana, Delhi and Western Uttar Pradesh, which fall in the North Western sub-tropical region of the country. In Maharashtra green grape growing is concentrated in Sangli, Nasik, Auranganbad, Ahmednagar, Bir, Poona and Sholapur districts. In Andhra Pradesh it is confined to Hyderabad and Anantapur districts with exceptions of a few vine-yards in the districts of Mahboobnagar, Cubbapah and Kurnool. Where as in Karnataka, the major centers of viticulture are Bangalore & Kolar for blue grape and for other varieties Bijapur, Gulbarga and Dharwad districts, but of late, it s spreading to the districts of Belgaum, Tumkur, Raichur and Bellary also. Coimbtore and Madurai districts are the viticulture centers in Tamilnadu. Area under grapes has been speedily increasing during the past five years.

Berry, spherical, purplish black; weight 5-6 g; skin thick; pulp, soft, juicy and gelatinous. Fruits available throughout the year ; seeds, 3-4.

A variety local to the surroundings of Bangalore ( Karnataka), medium vigour; seeded; medium yield; bunches small and compact; berries small to medium, spherical, thick skin which separates, dark blackish purple,; T.S.S. 18-19°B, titratable acidity 0.8-0.9 percent; good keeping quality; highly resistant to anthracnose and downy mildew; used on a limited scale for making sweet dessert wine. A possible vinfera x labrusca hybrid. Produces two crops in a year.

Medium vigour, seeded medium yielder, bunch medium to large well filled, berries black, large and elongated; pulp firm; high quality; TSS. 22°b, good shipper, late maturity; uneven ripening

Selected by the Indian Institute of Horticulture Research, Hessaraghatta from the introductions made for all over the world. Suitable for table, juice and red dessert wine purposes. Vigorous, seeded medium yield; bunch small, well filled, berries small to medium, spherical, black; very high quality, TSS. 25-27°B, good keeping quality

Medium, vigour, seeded, medium yielder; bunch medium large, compact; berries bluish black, medium large and spherical; pulp green and juicy; quality fair; mid season variety. Ripening sometimes uneven.

It is from a cross of Bangalore Blue X Anab-e-Shahi; berry, spherical to ellipsoidal; yellowish green; seeded; pleasant foxy flavor.

The world’s largest seedless black grape variety to be known as Black Opal seedless is reported to have been developed by the Division of Horticultural Research of CSIRO, Australia. This new variety produces berries of 21.5 mm. Diameter with pleasant sweet taste. This variety has shown resistance to Downy Mildew. Black Opal Seedless is a cross between California Black Rose and Ruby Seedless. It can be dried into an attractive raisin.