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Scuppernong
Grape (Vitis)
Green scuppernongs among muscadine mix
Color of berry skinBlanc
SpeciesVitis rotundifolia
Also called"big white grape"
OriginUnited States
Formation of seedsComplete
Sex of flowersFemale
VIVC number10847

The scuppernong is a large variety of muscadine (Vitis rotundifolia),[1] a species of grape native to the southern United States. It is usually a greenish or bronze color and is similar in appearance and texture to a white grape, but rounder and larger.

First known as the "big white grape",[2] the grape is commonly known as the "scuplin" in some areas of the Deep South and also as the "scufalum", "scupanon", "scupadine", "scuppernine", "scupnun", or "scufadine" in other parts of the South. The scuppernong is the state fruit of North Carolina.[3][4]

History

[edit]
North Carolina Scuppernong Table Wine

The name comes from the Scuppernong River in North Carolina mainly along the coastal plain. It was first mentioned as a "white grape" in a written logbook by the Florentine explorer Giovanni de Verrazzano while exploring the Cape Fear River Valley in 1524.[3] He wrote of "...[m]any vines growing naturally there...". Sir Walter Raleigh's explorers, the captains Philip Amadas and Arthur Barlowe, wrote in 1584 that North Carolina's coast was "...so full of grapes as the very beating and surge of the sea overflowed them...in all the world, the like abundance is not to be found."[5]

He may have been referring to Sargasso seaweed from coral reefs, which can be seen washed up on shore after a major storm off the North Carolina coast. The seaweed has berrylike gas-filled bladders looking much like grapes to keep the fronds afloat.

However, in 1585, Governor Ralph Lane, when describing North Carolina to Raleigh, stated: "We have discovered the main to be the goodliest soil under the cope of heaven, so abounding with sweet trees that bring rich and pleasant, grapes of such greatness, yet wild, as France, Spain, nor Italy hath no greater...".

The Scuppernong grape was first cultivated during the 17th century, particularly in Tyrell County, North Carolina. Isaac Alexander found it while hunting along the banks of a stream feeding into Scuppernong Lake in 1755; it is mentioned in the North Carolina official state toast.[6] The name itself traces back to the Algonquian word ascopo, meaning "sweet bay tree".

Cultivation

[edit]
Scuppernong vines in Mocksville, North Carolina
Scuppernong vines in Mocksville, North Carolina

The fruit grows where temperatures seldom fall below −12 °C (10 °F).[7] Injury or freeze can occur where winter temperatures drop below −18 °C (0 °F). Some cultivars, such as "Magnolia", "Carlos", and "Sterling" will survive north to Virginia and west to the Blue Ridge Mountains foothills. Nonetheless, Muscadines have a high tolerance to diseases and pests; more than 100 years of breeding has resulted in several bronze cultivars, such as "Doreen" and "Triumph", in addition to the aforementioned "Carlos" and "Magnolia’". All are distinguishable from the Scuppernong variety by being perfect-flowered (male and female flower parts together). The Scuppernong possesses only female flowering parts.

The "Mother Vine"

[edit]
Scuppernong vines at Duplin Winery in Rose Hill, North Carolina

Possibly[8] the oldest cultivated grapevine in the world is the 400-year-old scuppernong "Mother Vine" growing on Roanoke Island, North Carolina.[9] Growing at the town of Manteo, the Mother Vine was in 2010, 36 m (118 ft) long by 9 m (30 ft) wide, but at its prime in the 1950s had covered 0.8 ha (2.0 acres).[10]

[edit]

In music

[edit]

Scuppernong is a piece for piano in three movements by John Wesley Work III.[11]

Broomstraw Philosophers and Scuppernong Wine is a song written by country artist, Larry Jon Wilson.

In literature

[edit]

Scuppernongs are mentioned in chapters 4, 5, and 22 of To Kill a Mockingbird.

Scuppernongs are also mentioned in Charles W. Chesnutt's 1899 collection of short stories The Conjure Woman.

They are also mentioned by the name "scupadine" in chapter 6 of Salvage the Bones.

"In the Scuppernongs" is the title of a chapter in Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone, the ninth book in the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon.

In the movie The Bad Seed, Rhoda Penmark talks about the "Scuppernong arbor" in the family's yard. In William Faulkner's novel Absalom, Absalom!, Thomas Sutpen, and Wash Jones drink whiskey and laugh together in the Scuppernong arbor on Sutpen's estate.

Scuppernongs are mentioned in Chapter 25 of MacKinlay Kantor's Civil War novel Andersonville.

References

[edit]

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Scuppernong

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The Scuppernong is a bronze-colored cultivar of the muscadine grape (Vitis rotundifolia), characterized by large, thick-skinned, greenish-bronze or golden fruit with a sweet, musky flavor and large seeds, native to the southeastern United States. This variety, which requires cross-pollination for fruit production, thrives in hot, humid climates and is the official state fruit of North Carolina, designated as such in 2001. Named after the Scuppernong River in northeastern North Carolina, the cultivar traces its origins to the "Mother Vine" on Roanoke Island, a historic grapevine estimated to be over 400 years old and considered the oldest continuously cultivated grapevine in the United States, possibly planted by Native American Croatoan people or early English colonists in the late 1500s. The Scuppernong gained prominence as the first grape variety actively cultivated in the U.S., with records of its use dating to the early 19th century, including a 1823 order for 30 gallons of its juice by Thomas Jefferson. By the 1840s, it fueled North Carolina's burgeoning wine industry, exemplified by Paul Garrett's "Virginia Dare" scuppernong wine, which became one of America's most popular domestic wines and won international awards, such as a gold medal at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. Cultivated primarily in the southeastern states from Florida to Texas, Scuppernong vines prefer full sun (at least six hours daily), well-drained acidic to neutral soils (pH 6.0-8.0), and USDA hardiness zones 5b-9b, often trained on trellises for support as vigorous, deciduous climbers reaching 20-60 feet. The fruit ripens in late summer to early fall (August-October), attracting pollinators like bees and wildlife such as birds and small mammals. Beyond its agricultural role, the Scuppernong holds deep cultural significance in the American South, inspiring the North Carolina state toast adopted in 1957 and appearing in literature like Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, while supporting a modern wine industry valued at over $800 million annually in the state as of the early 2000s and exceeding $6 billion in economic impact as of 2022. It is widely used fresh, in jellies, jams, and preserves due to its high pectin content, and especially for sweet white wines with a distinctive wild, fruity profile, as produced by wineries like Duplin Winery since the mid-19th century.

Description and Taxonomy

Botanical Characteristics

The Scuppernong is classified as 'Scuppernong', a bronze-fruited of the muscadine grape (), which is native to the . This belongs to the family and is distinguished from other by its simple tendrils and overall robust morphology adapted to warm, humid environments. The berries of the Scuppernong are large and round, typically measuring 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5 to 3.8 cm) in diameter, with a thick, tough skin that ranges from greenish-bronze to golden in color. The pulp is juicy and sweet-tart, often containing 3 to 5 large, hard seeds, and the fruit exhibits a characteristic musky flavor profile attributed to its high content of resveratrol and other antioxidants. Scuppernong vines are vigorous, deciduous climbers that can reach lengths of 20 to 60 feet when supported, featuring broad, rounded leaves that are alternate, simple, and coarsely toothed, often exceeding 6 inches in length and width. The species is dioecious, with separate male and female vines in the wild, though the 'Scuppernong' cultivar typically bears female flowers and requires a pollinator for fruit set, while some modern selections are self-fertile. Notable adaptations include a high resistance to diseases such as Pierce's disease (Xylella fastidiosa) and various fungal pathogens prevalent in humid southeastern climates, enabling reliable growth without extensive chemical intervention. Additionally, the berries possess a slip-skin trait, where the pulp readily separates from the skin upon ripening, a feature shared with other muscadine types that facilitates consumption and processing. Nutritionally, Scuppernong grapes are rich in polyphenols, including ellagic acid and resveratrol, as well as vitamin C, contributing to their potent antioxidant properties that support cellular health and disease prevention. These compounds are particularly concentrated in the thick skins and seeds, setting muscadines apart from other grape varieties in terms of bioactive potential. The Scuppernong is recognized as the first named cultivar of the muscadine grape (Vitis rotundifolia), specifically the bronze-fruited variety 'Scuppernong', selected from wild populations along the Scuppernong River in North Carolina in the early 19th century. Although the term "Scuppernong" is often used generically to refer to bronze or light-colored muscadine grapes, it technically denotes this single pistillate (female-flowered) cultivar, which requires pollination from male or hermaphroditic vines for fruit production. Within the muscadine family, related cultivars include black-fruited varieties such as 'Noble', a self-fertile red type widely used for its vigorous growth, high productivity, and suitability for juice and wine due to stable pigments. Bronze or white-fruited examples encompass 'Carlos', another self-fertile cultivar prized for neutral flavor and high yields in white wine production. Modern hybrids like 'Triumph', a self-fertile bronze variety with large berries, high sugar content (around 18%), and good fresh-market qualities, and 'Paulk', a 2017 release featuring purple fruit of comparable size to 'Supreme' with enhanced storage ability, and 'Razzmatazz', a 2023 release from Auburn University featuring pink fruit, self-fertility, and improved yields for fresh market and wine, represent advancements in breeding for improved flavor, yield, and disease resistance. Muscadine breeding efforts, spanning over a century at institutions like the University of Georgia and North Carolina State University, have focused on transitioning from traditional dioecious (separate male and female) plants—such as the original 'Scuppernong'—to self-fertile (perfect-flowered) varieties to simplify cultivation and boost commercial viability. Early selections were primarily from wild stands, but systematic programs since the mid-20th century introduced self-fertile lines like 'Noble' and 'Triumph' by crossing female and male vines, while also selecting for resistance to diseases like Pierce's disease, which affects other grape species more severely. These developments have enabled standalone plantings without pollinator rows, increasing efficiency in southeastern U.S. production. Genetically, muscadines like the Scuppernong have a chromosome number of 2n=40, compared to 2n=38 in European Vitis vinifera grapes. This additional chromosomal material contributes to their characteristic larger fruit size, thicker skins, and overall vigor. Breeding programs have created polyploid variants (e.g., tetraploids with 2n=80) for enhanced traits, though most commercial cultivars remain at the diploid level.

History

Origins and Early Cultivation

The Scuppernong grape, a of the native muscadine species , originated in the wild landscapes of the , thriving along riverbanks and wetlands such as those of the Scuppernong River in . of the region, including Algonquian-speaking tribes like the Roanoke, utilized these grapes extensively for sustenance, medicinal remedies, and natural dyes. They consumed the thick-skinned fruit fresh or dried into raisins for preservation, applied leaf poultices to wounds, and incorporated the vines into ceremonial practices, recognizing the plant's nutritional and healing properties long before European arrival. European contact with the Scuppernong began during Sir Walter Raleigh's 1584 expedition to the , where explorers Amadas and Barlowe documented the profusion of wild vines "on the sand and on the green soil, on the hills as on the plains." in the late 16th and 17th centuries initiated cultivation in , marking the Scuppernong as the first grape variety domesticated in the and predating the introduction of European Vitis vinifera species. By the mid-18th century, local planter Isaac Alexander propagated a particularly vigorous wild vine he discovered along the Scuppernong River, which became the basis for the cultivated Scuppernong variety. The grape received its formal name in 1811, derived from the Algonquian term for the nearby Scuppernong River, Lake Phelps (formerly Scuppernong Lake), and surrounding settlement, as noted in early 19th-century agricultural publications. This documentation spurred a surge in commercial plantings after 1800, transforming the Scuppernong into a cornerstone of Southern agriculture, especially in North Carolina, where it supported wine, juice, and fresh fruit production across expanding vineyards. Breeding efforts in the latter half of the century further enhanced its yield and disease resistance, cementing its economic importance in the region's viticulture.

The Mother Vine

The Mother Vine is a renowned scuppernong grapevine located on the northeastern outskirts of Manteo, on Roanoke Island in Dare County, North Carolina, along Mother Vineyard Road. Estimated to be over 400 years old, it is believed to have been planted in the late 16th or early 17th century, possibly by Croatan Native Americans or early English colonists associated with the Roanoke expeditions, making it the oldest known cultivated grapevine in North America. At its peak, the vine covered more than half an acre, though its current span is smaller due to past damages. This vine holds profound historical significance as a living link to early American viticulture, potentially observed by English explorers Philip Amadas and Arthur Barlowe in 1584 and providing sustenance for the Lost Colony settlers. It has endured numerous threats, including hurricanes, neglect, a 1957 bulldozer incident that uprooted half of it, and a 2010 herbicide poisoning from which it was revived with expert intervention from North Carolina State University and the University of Virginia. Believed to have been propagated from wild muscadine vines by early inhabitants, it survived broader challenges like colonial conflicts and environmental stresses, symbolizing resilience in North Carolina's agricultural heritage. Cuttings from the Mother Vine have served as source material for propagating many modern scuppernong vines across the southeastern United States, influencing the development and spread of the cultivar, including its role in the University of Georgia's release of Scuppernong selections. Its grapes have historically been used by local wineries, such as those in Manteo and Greensboro, contributing to regional wine production. Currently, the Mother Vine remains productive, yielding bronze scuppernong grapes annually, though output has declined due to age and prior injuries. As of 2025, the property is protected and managed by the Outer Banks Conservationists, a nonprofit founded by the Wilson family, through pruning, arbor support, and ongoing care to protect against pests, diseases, and climate-related threats like rising sea levels. The organization plans to ensure public access while preserving the site, including the adjacent Wilson family residence for stewardship. As of 2025, the Mother Vine continues to produce grapes that support regional winemaking, offering lessons in resilience for contemporary grape cultivation amid climate challenges.

Cultivation

Growing Regions and Conditions

The Scuppernong grape, a cultivar of the native muscadine grape (Vitis rotundifolia), is primarily cultivated in the southeastern United States, with North Carolina serving as the leading producer and designating it the official state fruit in 2001. Other key growing regions include Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina, where the vine thrives in the warm, humid conditions of the Coastal Plain and Piedmont areas. These grapes are well-suited to USDA hardiness zones 5 to 9, encompassing much of this subtropical region. Scuppernong vines require a warm, humid subtropical climate with temperatures below 10°F causing injury to buds and canes, and drops to 0°F potentially leading to vine death. They tolerate high summer heat up to 100°F and flourish in humid environments but are sensitive to prolonged cold. Fruit maturation typically spans 100 to 120 days from bloom to harvest. Optimal soil conditions for Scuppernong include well-drained sandy loam with a range of 5.5 to 6.5, though the vines demonstrate good tolerance for poor, acidic soils common in the Southeast. They demand full sun exposure of 6 to 8 hours daily to maximize fruit set and yield, as shaded conditions reduce size and production. Water needs are moderate, typically 1 to 2 inches per week, aided by high ambient humidity that minimizes evaporation and stress during dry periods. Cultivation challenges include high susceptibility to damage from birds and deer, which often consume ripening fruit, necessitating protective netting or fencing in many plantings. While the vines' native adaptation provides some resilience to regional pests and diseases, site selection on elevated, well-drained locations helps mitigate risks from late frosts and excess moisture.

Propagation and Management

Scuppernong vines, a cultivar of the muscadine grape (Vitis rotundifolia), are primarily propagated asexually to maintain desirable traits, with cuttings being the most common method for commercial and home growers. Softwood cuttings taken from mature vines in late May to early June, when growth is active, root readily when treated with rooting hormone and placed in a moist, well-drained medium under high humidity conditions. Hardwood cuttings collected during winter dormancy can also be used, though they have lower success rates compared to softwood; these are typically 12-18 inches long with 3-4 buds and planted directly in the ground or pots after callusing. Grafting onto disease-resistant rootstocks, such as those tolerant to nematodes, is recommended for sites with challenging soils, using techniques like whip-and-tongue grafting performed in late winter to combine the scion's fruit quality with the rootstock's vigor. Layering offers a simple option for home gardeners, involving bending a low vine shoot to the ground in spring, covering a node with soil to encourage rooting while still attached to the parent plant, which can then be severed once roots form. Planting scuppernong vines requires spacing of 15-20 feet apart to allow for vigorous growth and air circulation, with rows ideally 10-12 feet wide for access. Vines are established on sturdy trellises, such as the Geneva double curtain system, which features two parallel wires 4-5 feet above ground and 3-4 feet apart, supporting up to 40 feet of fruiting arms per vine for higher yields. Initial training involves selecting 2-4 strong shoots post-planting to form the permanent cordon, pruning back lateral growth to 4-6 buds in the first year to build a balanced framework; this structure is maintained by tying canes to the wires as they grow. Ongoing management focuses on annual pruning during the dormant season from mid-January to mid-March to remove old wood and encourage fruiting spurs on 1-year-old canes, typically retaining 40-60 buds per vine for optimal production. Fertilization with a balanced 10-10-10 NPK product at 1-2 pounds per vine in spring, split into March and May applications, supports growth without excess vigor; soil tests guide adjustments, though scuppernong thrives in well-drained, sandy loam soils with pH 5.5-6.5. Pest management targets Japanese beetles, which defoliate vines in summer and can be controlled with hand-picking, neem oil sprays, or targeted insecticides during adult emergence in June-July; while scuppernong exhibits strong resistance to phylloxera, monitoring for root damage in non-native soils remains advisable. Harvesting occurs from August to October when berries naturally loosen from the pedicel upon gentle shaking, indicating full ripeness and peak sugar content. Mature vines typically yield 20-40 pounds of fruit per plant, with clusters picked individually by hand to avoid damage, extending over 4-6 weeks due to uneven ripening.

Uses

Culinary and Food Applications

Scuppernong grapes, a bronze variety of muscadine, are commonly consumed fresh in Southern cuisine by peeling away the tough outer skin to access the juicy, tangy-sweet pulp and seeds, which are typically spat out after savoring the flavor. This method highlights their suitability as a snack, with the fruit's unique sweet-tart profile distinguishing them from European grapes and making them a seasonal treat at roadside stands in the southeastern United States. In preserved products, scuppernong grapes are widely used for jellies, jams, and pies due to the high pectin content in their skins, which naturally aids gelling without added pectin in many recipes. The pulp and juice form the base for scuppernong butter, a thick spread made by cooking down the fruit with sugar and lemon juice, yielding about three 4-ounce jars from 2 pounds of grapes. Similarly, sorbet recipes incorporate pureed scuppernong with simple syrup and lemon for a refreshing frozen dessert, prepared in an ice cream maker using 1 quart of grapes. Traditional Southern dishes feature scuppernong in desserts such as cobblers and hull pies, where the tough skins are boiled and sweetened to create fillings for baked goods. Scuppernong cobbler, for instance, layers cooked grape pulp with a biscuit-like topping, emphasizing the fruit's role in regional heritage baking. Historically, Native Americans incorporated muscadine grapes, including wild varieties akin to scuppernong, into dried fruit mixtures similar to pemmican for preservation and sustenance, utilizing the entire fruit for food and medicinal purposes. Nutritionally, scuppernong grapes are promoted in health foods for their high resveratrol content in the skins and seeds, a polyphenol associated with antioxidant effects that may support heart health and reduce inflammation. This compound, along with other polyphenols like ellagic acid, positions scuppernong in smoothies or as a base for supplements, providing about 55 calories, 3.37 grams of fiber, and notable levels of flavonoids per half-cup serving.

Wine and Beverage Production

Scuppernong grapes, a variety of muscadine (Vitis rotundifolia), are primarily processed into wine through crushing the thick-skinned berries to extract juice, followed by fermentation in tanks. The grapes' natural sugar content, typically ranging from 18 to 24° Brix at harvest, supports the production of semi-sweet white wines, though chaptalization—adding sugar to reach around 22° Brix—is common to achieve desired alcohol levels of 10-12% ABV. Fermentation occurs at elevated temperatures of 81-86°F (27-30°C) for 7-14 days, often using cultured wine yeasts like Lalvin K1V-1116 for reliability, though some traditional and home methods rely on native yeasts present on the grape skins. For semi-sweet styles, fermentation is arrested by chilling to 32-38°F (0-3°C) or adding stabilizers like potassium sorbate to retain residual sweetness. Post-fermentation, Scuppernong wines are racked multiple times over 6-8 months to clarify and aged primarily in stainless steel tanks to preserve the fresh, fruity aromas of pear, apple, and citrus without imparting oak flavors. This method maintains the wine's light body and vibrant fruitiness, distinguishing it from drier or oaked varietals. Bottling follows sulfite addition for stability, resulting in wines typically served chilled. Historically, Scuppernong winemaking dates to 18th-century colonial North Carolina, where early settlers produced it in small cellars from wild vines discovered on Roanoke Island in 1584; by 1811, production reached 1,369 gallons in one county alone. During Prohibition (1920-1933), commercial operations halted, but the wine survived through legal homebrewing allowances, with families using Scuppernong for personal consumption due to its ease of growth and fermentation. Today, Duplin Winery in North Carolina stands as the largest producer of muscadine wines, including Scuppernong, outputting over 525,000 cases annually from estate vineyards. Common beverage variants include sweet white wines like Duplin's Scuppernong, a naturally sweet expression without additives, and blush styles such as Scuppernong Blush, which blend Scuppernong with late-harvest muscadine grapes for added complexity. Blends often incorporate other muscadine cultivars like Noble for red or rosé versions, while non-alcoholic options encompass pure juices and cordials made by pressing and pasteurizing the grapes without fermentation. Commercially, Scuppernong and muscadine wine production in the Southeast exceeds 1.4 million gallons annually in alone, with total regional output reaching several million gallons across states like Georgia and , driven by over 3,000 acres of commercial vineyards. Varieties like 'Carlos'—a bronze-fleshed Scuppernong-type—dominate, earning awards such as gold medals at the 2022 NC State Fair Wine Competition for its balanced sweetness and fruit-forward profile. This scale underscores Scuppernong's economic role in Southern agriculture, with wineries like Duplin and Hinnant Family Vineyards leading exports and .

Cultural Significance

Role in North Carolina Heritage

The Scuppernong grape holds a prominent place among 's official symbols, having been designated the state fruit by the General Assembly in 2001 to recognize its historical and cultural importance as the first grape actively cultivated . This bronze-green variety of the native muscadine grape () symbolizes the state's agricultural heritage and viticultural legacy. It also inspired the lyrics of North Carolina's official state toast, "The Old North State," adopted in 1957, which includes a reference to the Scuppernong as a symbol of the state's bounty. Annual events further celebrate this status, such as the Scuppernong River Festival in Tyrrell County, held each October since 1991, which draws thousands to Columbia for parades, music, vendors, and activities highlighting local traditions tied to the grape and the surrounding river ecosystem. Economically, the Scuppernong underpins a vital segment of 's muscadine industry. The muscadine wine industry generates an economic impact of about $1 billion in (as of 2021). Muscadine grapes, including Scuppernong, account for about half of the state's wine production (as of 2023). bolsters this sector, with visitors flocking to historic sites like the Mother Vine in Manteo on —a 400-year-old Scuppernong believed to be the oldest in —and nearby vineyards, contributing to the broader wine industry's approximately $193 million in annual expenditures statewide (as of 2025). The Scuppernong's historical legacy traces back to colonial times, when early English settlers on in the late 1500s noted wild muscadine vines, leading to the first organized cultivation in the by the and establishing as the nation's leading wine through the . These grapes provided essential sustenance through wine and production for inhabitants during periods of hardship, including the agrarian challenges of the antebellum . In modern times, continues this legacy through ongoing research on Scuppernong breeding, developing cultivars with improved size, seedlessness, disease resistance, and extended , while investigating health benefits such as high levels of over 200 that support activity and potential applications in nutraceuticals and medical treatments like cancer therapies. Within North Carolina's Southern agrarian culture, the Scuppernong embodies enduring family traditions of cultivation, harvesting, and preservation, passed down through generations in rural communities like those along the Scuppernong River, where families have integrated the grape into homemade wines, jellies, and communal gatherings since the 1700s. This cultural role extends to youth education via 4-H programs, such as the Scuppernong Sprouts 4-H Club in Tyrrell County, which engages young participants in agricultural activities including grape-related projects, parades at local festivals, and hands-on learning about horticulture through the North Carolina Cooperative Extension.

Representations in Arts and Literature

The Scuppernong grape, a variety of muscadine native to the southeastern United States, has appeared in Southern literature as a symbol of regional abundance, nostalgia, and cultural heritage. In William Bartram's 18th-century travelogue Travels Through North and South Carolina, Georgia, East and West Florida, the Cherokee Country, the Extensive Territories of the Muscogulges, or Creek Confederacy, and the Country of the Chactaws (1791), Bartram vividly describes wild grape vines rambling over shrubs and low trees in the Cherokee regions of North Carolina, noting their fruit as producing "an excellent juice" comparable in size and color variety to European wine grapes. This portrayal romanticizes the untamed Southern landscape, positioning the vines as integral to the region's natural splendor and potential for cultivation. Similarly, in Charles W. Chesnutt's 1899 collection The Conjure Woman, the story "The Goophered Grapevine" centers on a scuppernong vineyard in North Carolina, where the "luscious scuppernong" grapes represent both economic value and folkloric enchantment, as an enslaved narrator recounts a conjure spell that curses thieves but revives the vines during the Civil War, underscoring themes of resilience amid hardship. In 20th-century fiction, Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird (1960) evokes everyday Southern childhood through casual references to scuppernongs, such as children "helping ourselves to someone's scuppernongs" from backyard arbors, blending the fruit with motifs of community, innocence, and the humid Alabama setting. These depictions highlight the grape's role in grounding narratives in authentic Southern sensory experiences, from the sticky sweetness of the fruit to its ties to family and place. Scuppernong has also featured in American folk and country music, often evoking harvest rhythms and rural simplicity. Larry Jon Wilson's 1975 song "Broomstraw Philosophers and Scuppernong Wine," from his album New Beginnings, paints a lyrical portrait of Southern introspection, with the wine derived from the grapes symbolizing contemplative leisure amid broomstraw fields and philosophical musings. Folk artist Jonathan Byrd's track "Scuppernong" (2010) further integrates the fruit into Americana storytelling, celebrating its wild, native essence in songs about Southern landscapes and personal journeys. Earlier, composer John Wesley Work III included "Scuppernong" as a three-movement piano piece (published 1951), drawing on African American musical traditions to evoke the grape's rhythmic, harvest-inspired vitality. In , Scuppernong appears in depictions of iconic Southern sites, particularly the Mother Vine on , —the oldest known cultivated grapevine, estimated at over years old and linked to early colonial . Modern photographs in regional publications reinforce the vine's role in Roanoke landscapes as a living emblem of exploration and survival. While less prominent in films, Scuppernong subtly nods to Southern resilience in and broader cultural works, such as post-Civil themes where the vine's hardy growth mirrors human fortitude, as seen in eco-focused contemporary writing on native plants' adaptability to challenges. Representations of Scuppernong have evolved from Bartram's 18th-century naturalist romanticization of wild Southern flora to Chesnutt's 19th-century folk tales embedding it in African American oral traditions, and Lee's mid-20th-century evocation of nostalgic domesticity. In modern eco-literature, it embodies , as highlighted in studies of Vitis rotundifolia (muscadine) as a resilient native requiring minimal intervention, thriving in the Southeast's humid conditions and symbolizing ecological amid environmental pressures.

References

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  3. https://www.ncpedia.org/scuppernong-grape
  4. https://hgic.clemson.edu/the-history-and-legacy-of-muscadine-grapes/
  5. https://northcarolinahistory.org/encyclopedia/state-fruit-scuppernong-grape/
  6. https://wineamerica.org/economic-impact-study/north-carolina-wine-industry/
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  9. https://extension.msstate.edu/publications/establishment-and-production-muscadine-grapes
  10. https://specialtyproduce.com/produce/Scuppernong_Muscadine_Grapes_13994.php
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  21. https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/muscadine-grapes-in-the-home-garden
  22. https://muscadines.caes.uga.edu/cultivars/flower-type.html
  23. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/288050910_Applications_of_polyploids_in_muscadine_grape_Vitis_rotundifolia_Michx_Breeding
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  27. https://www.ncpedia.org/symbols/fruit
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  29. https://www.ourstate.com/mother-vine-through-time/
  30. https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/mother-vine-oldest-north-america-wine
  31. https://northcarolinahistory.org/encyclopedia/mother-vine/
  32. https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/scuppernong-wine-north-carolina-mother-vine
  33. https://www.ourstate.com/mother-vine/
  34. https://www.agriculture.com/400-year-old-grapevine-still-fuels-north-carolina-wine-11793949
  35. https://statesymbolsusa.org/symbol-official-item/north-carolina/state-food-agriculture-symbol/scuppernong-grape
  36. https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/fruits/muscadine-grapes/
  37. https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/pdf/muscadine-grape-production-guide/2020-02-11/AG_e_web_021120.pdf
  38. https://lenoir.ces.ncsu.edu/2023/09/celebrate-eastern-north-carolinas-muscadines-and-scuppernongs/
  39. https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/fruit-nut/fact-sheets/muscadine/
  40. https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/flaglerco/2023/07/23/grape-expectations-growing-muscadine-grapes/
  41. https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/make-jam-jelly/jams-jellies-general-information/general-information-on-canning-jams-jellies-and-marmalades/
  42. https://magazine.cals.ncsu.edu/heritage-foods/
  43. https://winemakermag.com/article/muscadine-a-taste-of-the-south
  44. https://blog.homebrewing.org/making-wine-muscadine-and-scuppernong-wine/
  45. https://www.duplinwinery.com/scuppernong.html
  46. https://www.ncpedia.org/wine-and-wine-making
  47. https://www.akronlife.com/dining/Flavor-blog/duplin-winery/
  48. https://www.duplinwinery.com/scuppernong-blush.html
  49. https://grapes.ces.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Muscadine_Hoffmann.pdf
  50. https://ncwine.org/2022-nc-state-fair-wine-competition-awards/
  51. https://journals.ashs.org/view/journals/horttech/31/3/article-p280.xml
  52. https://www.charlottemagazine.com/beyond-the-muscadine-the-evolution-of-north-carolina-wine/
  53. http://wineamerica.org/economic-impact-study-2025/north-carolina-wine-industry-2025/
  54. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/63678/63678-h/63678-h.htm
  55. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/11666/11666-h/11666-h.htm
  56. https://genius.com/Harper-lee-to-kill-a-mockingbird-chapter-4a-annotated
  57. https://music.apple.com/us/song/broomstraw-philosophers-and-scuppernong-wine/1039697762
  58. https://open.spotify.com/track/4PgR6g5wGSqOmFiEfDkTq9
  59. https://imslp.org/wiki/Scuppernong_%28Work_III%252C_John_Wesley%29
  60. https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/9/6/131
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