The Grapes of (Welch’s) Wrath

New York produces more grape juice than any other state. That rich, purply, aromatic liquid includes the famous brand Welch’s Concord grape juice, invented by Dr. Thomas Welch in 1869. Like most other grape juices, Welch’s is made from native Concord grapes grown along the banks of Lake Erie, a huge viticultural region spanning not only New York but also parts of Ohio and Pennsylvania. Were it not for Dr. Welch, an ardent Prohibitionist, the Lake Erie region might have developed as an important producer of wine grapes rather than juice grapes.