This book places grapes in the context of their family, the Vitaceae, analyzing the relationship of the family to other angiosperms and the interrelationships and characteristics of its genera. The text includes a brief history of grape growing, with emphasis on North America, and an illustrated life history of grape, following the two-year cycle from bud initiation to fruit maturity. Along with the history of agricultural practices, this book discusses the history of grapevine identification in North America, concluding with descriptions and illustrations of 30 important North American cold climate cultivars. Through illuminating analysis and illustrations, Taming the Wild Grape serves as a general resource for understanding the growth, development, life history, and identification of grapes and the Vitaceae.