A large, bronze-to-purple grape variety of the muscadine species, native to the southeastern United States and particularly associated with North Carolina.
The grape takes its name from North Carolina's Scuppernong River, where an especially old vine — reputedly first noted by English colonists in the 16th century — still grows on Roanoke Island. Scuppernongs have thick, tough skins, high sugar content, and a sweet, musky flavor and aroma, which make them better suited to wine, jams, jellies, and juice than to eating fresh, though they can be eaten fresh too. Scuppernong wine is a regional Southern specialty, and the jams and jellies are commonly served over biscuits or scones, or used as a meat glaze. The grapes are rarely found outside the Southeast and are best sourced from local farms or specialty retailers there.