So I posted a photo of these beauties last night
And I thought they deserved their own post so you all wouldn’t miss out on them
Some thought they were raspberries (who knew that word had a “p” in it???) , but they are very different. The color is the only thing those two share. For one they are smaller, more like the size of an overgrown Pea… or the size of the tip of your index finger. This also means the seeds are smaller too which is one reason I like them so much. I like blackberries and raspberries but their seeds are annoying.
Secondly their flavor is quite different. While nice ripe raspberries have a sort of soft aromatic flowery flavor, sometimes with a sharp sour note at the end… wine berries are more rounded in flavor. I guess you could compare it to whine, they sometimes will have a slight tang but it does not usually make me pucker (raspberries can). Their flavor is a more rounded a rather winey flavor if you get them ripe. In short, they are delicious.
Thirdly they are not fuzzy. Raspberries don’t have a lot of fuzz but it kinda contributes to their softness. the berries as you can see are very smooth in texture. Now their plants are quite fuzzy which is a good way to identify them…. but the number one easiest way to identify them are the green leaf tops with white bottoms…
Did I not mention these lovelies grow wild? Easiest to spot along back country roads. They do really well near roads for some reason, maybe cuz they are kinda considered an invasive species..
you can find out more info here :
http://dnr.wi.gov/invasives/fact/wineberry.htm
http://www.vegetablegardener.com/item/3248/wineberries
(darn you wordpress for giving me linking issues)
Who knows, maybe you have them where you are, and if you do you will be doing the land a favor by picking them so the critters don’t spread the plans further 😉
AKG Inspiration 
I don’t think we have those berries here. I will keep a look-out, but I don’t think so. We do have some wild blueberries by our cabin. I don’t pick them though, I leave them for the wild life there.
We are SO picking these berries again this year. And we WILL be on time, hehe. I’m marking my calendar. 😛
yeah I just passed by the ones at mom and dad’s.. stalks are getting full.. but did not see any buds. you should be able to keep a better eye at BRVA so keep me posted
Why doesn’t somebody grab some plants and cultivate them only for sale at greengrocers, that being the only way to get them. That way, no invasive plants to worry about, but still enjoying the fruit. Seems such a shame, but often such invasiveness is a sign of being a survivor plant that will do well, such as wheat, an invasive grass in its time!
Does seem a shame eh? I think it would be too hard to get rid of all the wild ones so by adding stores it would only increase the numbers… I could see shipping the berries to places around the country to provide them but eventually people would grow their own probably even if just out of compost… I think some places do sell the plants, but with so many states considering them invasive they may be hard to really bring into your state. Maybe the tune will change towards the Wineberries, time will tell.
So…. are the available at the store, or can you only find them in the wild? Haven’t spotted them around here anywhere as far as I can remember, so I was hoping I would be able to buy them.
nope, just wild. Keep an eye out they usually start in July most places. Where are you located?
I’m in Texas, Dallas area
yeah, that may be too far south, I have only read that they are in north east. But you never know. maybe I will make some jelly this year. 😉
Ooohh…I’d love to see a jelly post!