Sultana is a famous seedless white/green grape variety, best known for making raisins, but it can also be eaten fresh and used for juice or wine.
🍇 Sultana grape characteristics
- Color: Green to yellow-green, turning golden when fully ripe
- Seeds: Seedless
- Berry size: Small to medium
- Flavor: Mild, sweet and fruity
- Sugar: Generally high when fully ripe
- Skin: Relatively thin
- Uses: Fresh eating, raisins, juice and some wine production
- Vine: Vigorous and productive
- Ripening: Generally early to mid-season, depending on climate
Sultana vs. Thompson Seedless
The names Sultana and Thompson Seedless are often used interchangeably, although naming can vary by country and horticultural context. The grape is especially important commercially for seedless raisin production.
🍷 For wine
Sultana can be fermented into wine, but it is not usually considered a premium wine grape. Its relatively neutral flavor can produce a light, mild wine. For homemade wine, ripe grapes with good sugar and acidity balance are preferable.
If you’re comparing grapes for your wine project, I can also compare Sultana vs. Concord vs. Fry Muscadine for sugar, acidity, flavor, yield, and wine quality.
