WineCrisp Apple Review
"A Bottom-Shelf Vintage"
The purple-hued WineCrisp Apple boasts a complex flavor profile that would give a pretentious sommelier quite a lot to blab about. Sweet and juicy with notes of berry, spice, and dare I say, citrus?, the purveyors of this finely-crafted 2008 vintage from the Illinois region bred their stock with taste in mind – a taste which improves with time, as flavors enhance after thirty days of cold storage. Sadly, this exotic debutante is overwhelmed by subtle hints of “knife-skin” stabbing your throat like the cheap corkscrew you left in your first apartment. Additionally, the robust flesh is so densely packed it feels almost indestructible. Serviceable for a night at home, the WineCrisp is best left in the cellar when entertaining or on special occasions. Pairs well with dessert.
- FLAVOR PROFILE -
SWEETNESS
3/5
TARTNESS
0.5/5
INTENSITY
2.5/5
WINECRISP APPLE BIO
PARENTAGE
Cox’s Orange Pippin x Rome x
Crab apple
ORIGIN
U. of Illinois Cooperative
Breeding Project
YEAR
2008
AVAILABILITY
Winter – Spring
BEST USES
Munching, Dessert
OTHER NAMES
Co-op 31
Love your irreverent and salty comments. As I look for my next apple tree, you’ve persuaded me to forego the Cosmic Crisp and to look around for a Sweet Tango. My only complaint about your ratings is that there are not enough of them. There are dozens of other apples I’d enjoy your applying your analytical talents to. One question: the first apple I planted was a “Rosy Glow,” which I gather is a sport of Cripps Pink; is it the same as the Sundowner that you critique? Anyway, bravo for your useful and entertaining rankings. March 27, 2022
Thank you very much! I will continue to review apples as I receive them – it’s a lifelong pursuit.
If you can find a SweeTango tree and can manage a more finicky apple to grow then you will not be disappointed!
I’ve never tried the Rosy Glow but from my understanding it is a “sport” which means it’s a mutation that grew on the same tree as a Pink Lady. The Sundowner is a “sibling” which means it shares the same parents as the Pink Lady but we’re grown on different trees.
If you haven’t had Envy I strongly recommend it! The consistency in quality of all the ones I’ve had leads me to think it might be simpler to grow than some of the touchier varieties.
I just wanted to say that I read every single one of your apple reviews this morning and I feel as if I’ve looked under a rock and found a thriving, beautiful ecosystem that I never knew existed. My perception of (and admiration for) the world of apples has grown substantially. Thank you!
Oh thank you so much! This is EXACTLY what this site is for. Thank you!!
bro your way too excited about this its freaky besides you have been living under a rock,you judge perfectly good apples terribly and then don’t understand why everyone’s coming at you
Winecrisp is a great apple with a complex flavor that hasn’t picked up much speed in fruit industry. Great for pick your own and orchards with their own markets vs the grocery stores. If stored correctly stores really well. It has a following, but not a large one yet.