I wondered why only grapes make great wine?

January 2, 2026

Dear Karen,
This morning while I was eating an apricot, I wondered why only grapes make great wine?
–Kelsey Z. (Atlanta, GA)The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

Dear Kelsey, Good question! No one knows why, of all fruits, only grapes make great wine. And there’s a corollary idea that’s equally perplexing: If you ferment apricots or cherries, or blueberries, the resulting “wine” still tastes like those fruits. But wine made from grapes doesn’t taste like grapes. It can taste like a hundred other things from lemons to cowboy boots, but it almost never tastes like grapes themselves.

—Karen

Which classic Fourth of July item was also popular in Ancient Rome?The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

A. Hamburgers

B. Hot Dogs

C. Potato Salad

D. Watermelon Slices

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