Norton is the Missouri state grape. The Hermann Norton Wine Trail in Missouri will be featuring the Norton grape May 2 and 3. Tickets must be purchased in advance. For more information, visit the Hermann Norton Wine Trail website.

People either love the Norton grape or believe that it shouldn’t be a wine. Sometimes tasters refer to it as bubblegum but if you like the Norton taste, then there is no doubt that for you it produces one of the best wines in the world.

We first came across the Norton grape when we visited Horton Winery in Virginia. The Norton grape has a long history. It is believed to be a native American grape but there is some dispute as to its parentage. We soon discovered that the Norton grape had been prolific in Virginia during the late 18^th century. Settlers traveling to Missouri brought the Norton grapes with them and thus began the start of Norton grapes in the Midwest.  During Prohibition, many of the Norton grapes in Virginia were pulled out and replanted with grapes for producing juice. Today the Norton grape is flourishing in Missouri and becoming established in Virginia again.

If you have the opportunity to taste a wine produced from Norton grapes, consider doing so. It’s fun to taste different wines to determine what you like. Enjoy a visit to a winery that produces Norton wine.

Cheers, Kathy