Wineberries
Wineberries are an introduced wild berry common in Appalachia and the southern U.S. hillsides. Similar to raspberries but smaller and tarter, they’re prized in regional foraging and old-time cooking.
synonyms: raspberry (related), wild berry, bramble
Hillbilly Dude Says...
Our family is probably most excited when wineberries are ripe. You want them as close to perfectly ripe as possible - they'll look like glass in a deep dark raspberry color. If you wait too long, they'll ferment. But they're a favorite around here. Hillbilly Dude Says...
Our family is probably most excited when wineberries are ripe. You want them as close to perfectly ripe as possible - they'll look like glass in a deep dark raspberry color. If you wait too long, they'll ferment. But they're a favorite around here. Pronunciation
[WINE-ber-ee] /ˈwaɪnˌbɛr.i/
Meaning & Usage
- A wild berry (Rubus phoenicolasius) foraged in Appalachia (noun)
Elmer:
Let’s head up the ridge - the wineberries should be ripe now.
Let’s head up the ridge - the wineberries should be ripe now.
Estel:
Bring a bucket. They’re sweeter than last year’s.
Bring a bucket. They’re sweeter than last year’s.variations: Japanese wineberry, Chinese wineberry, wild raspberry
★ Look for wineberries along sunny edges of woods in early summer. They’re smaller than raspberries but shinier and tarter. ★
Origin and Etymology
Introduced from East Asia in the late 1800s, wineberries became naturalized across the Appalachian region, where they’re now a familiar summer treat.
Usage Notes
- Also called "Chinese wineberry" in some Appalachian communities, reflecting its East Asian origin.
- Common in Appalachia and the mid-Atlantic states; less known in the Midwest or West.
- Often eaten fresh, made into jams, or baked into pies and cobblers.
- Not originally Southern, but strongly associated with Appalachian foraging culture today.