With the spread of new grape varieties on the market, you may have seen these small grapes mixed with standard table grapes. Black Corinth grapes come in red, white, and black varieties which have many health benefits. Also known as the Corinth grape, or the Zante currant grape, these young grapes are often marketed as champagne grapes because of their small, bubble-like appearance, and because of their elegantly photographed champagne flute. This name is where any association with champagne ends. This grape has nothing to do with making champagne or wine. This grape is hard to eat. Unlike many of the new hybrids hitting the market, champagne grapes have been around for a while, but haven't been as popular as other grapes in the United States, such as Thompson Seedless. Where did these little grapes come from? What's their story, and are they good for anything other than eating healthy snacks? Keep reading to find out the background behind these little bubbly grapes. Whether you call it Zante currant, Corinth grape, or champagne, these grapes have been around since before the fall of Rome. The first recorded mention of it dates back to AD 75 by Pliny the Elder. 
These raisins later became a source of trade between the Venetians and the Greeks and appeared in the English markets in the fourteenth century. During this period, they received the name Racinque de Courant. They later became known as Corinth, as it was their main trading port. The Champagne grapes, or Corinth, eventually made their way to the United States with the help of grower, Colonel Auguston Harthy, who began growing red and white Corinthian plants in California in 1861. The black Corinthian grape was successfully introduced in 1901 by David Fairchild. The peak production of these grapes occurred in the 1930s when 3,000 acres were allocated to this grape, a number that has remained constant. Champagne grapes have been used in the production of raisins since Pliny the Elder was first mentioned, and it is still one of the most widely used grapes for this purpose. In the United States, they are sold as Zante currants, Corinthian raisins, or Corinthian raisins. Countries outside the United States sell them as currants, although they are very different from real currants, which are also sold dried and are very different from berries. That's a lot of history for one little raisin! What do champagne grapes taste like? 
Champagne grapes are crunchy grapes with a balanced sweet flavor with a light texture. When these grapes are dried to produce currants, the sugar is concentrated, which makes them sweeter, although they retain a touch of watermelon. By drying the currants, the flavor is enhanced. Current has a mild spice, which is why it is so popular in desserts and jams. The acidity prevents it from being too sweet, like some other dried fruits. The young stems of champagne grapes are often eaten with the grapes, as they are difficult to remove. It does not spoil the taste because the stems are very tender and difficult to separate from the skin. How to use champagne grapes Champagne grapes are very popular in fruit trays because their small size makes them visually appealing. They are often used as an edible display for events, wrapped over wine glasses, or displayed in groups. This grape has more than just an aesthetic appeal. They also pack a culinary punch. Ripe or dried champagne grapes like currants add something special to sweet and savory dishes. Black Corinth (Vitis vinifera 'Black Corinth') is also called 'Zante Currant'. European grapes produce a sweet reddish black, almost seedless grape that is usually dried for raisins. 
This plant is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 9 and requires a sunny location with at least eight hours of direct sunlight daily. For best fruit production, it should be trained on a multi-wire trellis but can also be trained to grow over a fence or tree. Prepare the planting site in the summer or fall before planting the grapes. Do not plant 'Black Corinth' vines where the water drains slowly. Remove any plants growing at the planting site. Use a shovel or tiller to make a 2- to 4-inch-deep layer of compost, well-aged compost, leaf mold, moss, or long-lived sawdust in the soil to a depth of 10 to 12 inches. Test the soil pH to see that it is between 6.5 and 7. Add lime to the soil if the pH is less than 6.5 and sulfur if the pH is higher than 7. Create a multi-wire trellis if necessary. Plant virus-free 'Black Corinth' clone 2 vines only in spring. Plant it under a multi-wire trellis or next to a fence or tree. Dig a planting hole twice the width of the grape root ball. Dig deep enough to plant the vine at the same depth it was initially growing. Place several vines 7 to 8 feet apart. Water the vine abundantly to help settle the soil around the roots. Cut off the broken or very long roots of the main rootstock plants with sharp shears. Use pruning tools to remove every single main stem or cane except for one. Cut it cleanly from the base. Leave the strongest canes to grow until they reach the main stem. Prune this stem or cane to only growth buds. Insert a bamboo reed or stake just behind the vine so you can climb up the trellis, or tie a string over the reeds and trellis wire. 
Water the vine as often as needed to keep the soil moist but not muddy. Remove weeds and debris from around the base of the stem as soon as you notice them. Feed the vine 1 ounce of a balanced 16-16-16 fertilizer when it begins to grow and produce green leaves. Cut off new side shoots before they reach 1 foot in length. In late winter next year, use a pruner to cut the main stem or cane back to a growth bud or node 3 to inches above the trellis structure. Water the vine once a week if there is no rain from the second year. Fertilize the vines in the spring after new growth begins. Allow side shoots to develop from the stem. Train them to grow in opposite directions along trellis or fence wires. Keep only side shoots or hoops and remove new shoots growing from the stem. Use nail or grape scissors to cut away any fruit that forms in the second year. Prune each cordon to 10 growth spurs with only two or three nodes on each spur in late winter each year. Allow only one handful of grapes to ripen per spore during the third year. Let the vine bear fruit free of charge from the fourth year.
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