Post-Shine Muscat, Gyeongbuk Province’s New Grape Varieties ‘Gold Sweet’ and ‘Red Claret’ Receive Favorable Reviews

Signs of change are emerging in the domestic grape market, which had been concentrated on Shine Muscat. The new grape varieties ‘Gold Sweet’ and ‘Red Claret,’ developed by the Gyeongbuk Provincial Agricultural Research and Extension Services, are expanding their cultivation area around major production regions in Gyeongbuk and have entered the stage of marketability verification.

According to the Gyeongbuk Provincial Agricultural Research and Extension Services, the cultivated area in the province for Gold Sweet, Red Claret, and the late-maturing variety ‘Gloristar’ totals about 150 hectares (ha). By variety, the yellow-green Gold Sweet is grown in Gyeongsan, Yeongcheon, and Chilgok, while the red variety Red Claret is cultivated mainly in Sangju and Gimcheon, which are relatively high in elevation.

The distribution of the new varieties is being carried out by developing the varieties, transferring sales rights to nursery companies, and having those companies produce seedlings and supply them to farms.

Oversupply of Shine Muscat… “Dispersing the harvest period is the solution”
Behind the Gyeongbuk Provincial Agricultural Research and Extension Services’ decision to develop the two varieties is the problem of falling prices caused by the overconcentration on Shine Muscat.

In fact, according to agricultural distribution information from the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT), the price of Shine Muscat, which was 23,805 won in 2023 (2 kg, average price in August), has been on a downward trend, falling to 16,753 won in 2024 and 14,468 won in 2025. This year as well, the average August price is being formed at 11,755 won (average price from the 1st to the 25th), down 18.8% from the previous year.

Kwon Min-kyung, team leader of the Digital Horticulture Research Division at the Gyeongbuk Provincial Agricultural Research and Extension Services, pointed out, “As the cultivated area of Shine Muscat has increased rapidly, supply has become too large and prices are falling,” adding, “The problem is the structure in which a single variety is shipped intensively at a specific time.” She continued, “The varieties developed by the Gyeongbuk Provincial Agricultural Research and Extension Services are early- to mid-season varieties, and because their harvest time is about 22 days earlier than Shine Muscat, differentiation is possible.”

The two varieties form the market closest to Shine Muscat in that they are grapes eaten with the skin on. The Agricultural Research and Extension Services judges that their consumer market itself is different from that of Kyoho or Campbell grapes, which are eaten after peeling off the skin. In particular, Red Claret is expected to be able to create a red grape market different from the existing one by making use of its characteristic as a red grape.

Gold Sweet at 24 Brix and Red Claret at 20.5 Brix… 22 days earlier than Shine Muscat
Both varieties were developed by crossing the red variety ‘Beni Ballad’ with ‘Shine Muscat.’ Gold Sweet applied for variety protection in 2020 and was registered in 2023 (No. 9425), while Red Claret was also registered in the same year (No. 9741).

Gold Sweet’s greatest strength is its sugar content. Based on open-field seeded cultivation at the Gyeongbuk Provincial Agricultural Research and Extension Services test field (Daegu), its sugar content is 24.0 Brix, 5.8 Brix higher than Shine Muscat (18.2 Brix) grown under the same conditions. Its acid content is 0.60%. Its ripening date is September 13, 22 days earlier than Shine Muscat (October 5). It is a yellow-green grape eaten with the skin on, with a strong muscat aroma and a crisp texture. 

However, there is a difference in berry size. The cluster weight is 763 g, similar to Shine Muscat (779 g), but the weight of one grape berry is 5.6 g, about 67% of Shine Muscat (8.4 g). 

Red Claret has a sugar content of 20.5 Brix, 2.1 Brix higher than the control variety Beni Ballad (18.4 Brix). Its acid content is 0.51%, lower than Beni Ballad (0.56%), making its sweetness stand out relatively more. Its ripening date is September 9, the earliest among the two varieties. With a cluster weight of 586 g and berry weight of 7.9 g, it is larger than Beni Ballad (544 g and 7.6 g).

Kang Geun-jin, an auctioneer at Joongang Fruit & Vegetable who participated in the sensory evaluation on the 24th, praised the varieties, saying, “Gold Sweet has slightly small berries, but it is a Grade A variety with excellent flavor and sugar content, including an acacia aroma, while Red Claret has thin skin and crisp flesh, giving it a good texture and sweetness with juice bursting when the berries are bitten, and its berry size is also satisfactory.” 

Both varieties are highly productive, with good berry and cluster set, and because there is little flower drop or berry cracking, cultivation management is relatively easy. Short pruning is possible, and their internode length is short, making them suitable for an improved single-cordon training system. Seedless grapes can also be cultivated through growth regulator treatment. However, their storability is relatively low, so it is recommended that they be shipped early and eaten in season.

Red Claret suggested at 40,000 won per 2㎏… Department store tasting responses also positive

As positive responses emerged from evaluations conducted separately for wholesalers and consumers, expectations for marketability increased.

In an actual sensory evaluation and mock auction conducted for wholesalers at Joongang Fruit & Vegetable in Seoul’s Garak Market, Red Claret was offered at around 40,000 won per 2㎏, while Gold Sweet was offered at around 30,000 won per 2㎏. Although there were comments that the berries were somewhat small, the varieties were evaluated as having sufficient market potential because their taste was so good. For comparison, the average August auction price of Shine Muscat at Garak Market is about 9,200 won for a 2㎏ premium-grade product and about 14,200 won for a special-grade product.

At consumer tasting events held from the 21st to the 23rd at Hyundai Department Store and Dongdaemun Design Plaza, the new varieties generally received comments that they were delicious. Team leader Kwon Min-kyung explained, “Last year, sales performance of Gold Sweet and Red Claret through department store channels was good, so we expect good results this year as well,” adding, “Specific sales volumes will be tallied later.”

Exports to Southeast Asia underway… Diversifying distribution channels 
Exports are also being carried out at the same time. Gold Sweet and Red Claret are being actively exported to Southeast Asian regions such as Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore, and exports have continued from July through August. 

The distribution method for grapes has so far been an offline-centered structure in which grapes are shipped to wholesale markets after cultivation, but the plan is to expand online sales channels going forward. Promotion using social networking services (SNS) will also be strengthened.

Team leader Kwon said, “There are limits to publicizing new varieties through offline channels alone,” and added, “We plan to actively promote them through famous influencers and approach consumers through influencer group purchases and other methods.”