Winesap

Winesap
Species	Apple
Trees Found	2
Orchards	McCoin Upper
Preserved	Clarno Arboretum(2025)

Winesap is a apple variety found in 5 tree(s) across Central Oregon heritage orchards.

Description

Winesap is a heritage apple variety with a rich history in American orchards.

Characteristics

Attribute	Details
Origin	New Jersey, USA; Colonial era (before 1804), exact origin unknown
Harvest Season	Late fall (late October)
Flavor Profile	Distinctive wine-like and spicy flavor; balanced sweet-tart with tangy, savory nuances; crisp yellow flesh
Storage	Excellent - 3+ months in cold storage

Uses

• Fresh eating
• Cooking
• Cider (especially prized)
• Baking

History

First documented in 1804 by Willich and Mease as 'wine-sop.' Was a major commercial variety in Virginia during the 19th century and parent to many great apples including Stayman, Arkansas Black, and Black Twig.

Trees

Tree	Orchard	Tag	Condition
McCoin Upper Tree 65	McCoin Upper	65	fair
McCoin Upper Tree 66	McCoin Upper	66	good

USDA Pomological Watercolors

• 
  POM00000055 by Steadman, Royal Charles b.
• 
  POM00000751 by Arnold, Mary Daisy, Yakima
• 
  POM00000752 by Schutt, Ellen Isham, Medford
• 
  POM00000753 by Schutt, Ellen Isham, Medford
• 
  POM00000754 by Schutt, Ellen Isham, Goode
• 
  POM00000755 by Passmore, Deborah Griscom, Franktown
• 
  POM00000756 by Heiges, Bertha creator artist USDA, Shawnee
• 
  POM00000757 by Heiges, Bertha creator artist USDA, Coleman Falls
• 
  POM00000895 by Shull, James Marion, Vincennes
• 
  POM00001024 by Passmore, Deborah Griscom, Charlottesville
• 
  POM00001025 by Newton, Amanda Almira, Wenatchee
• 
  POM00003903 by Shull, James Marion, Crozet
• 
  POM00003933 by Shull, James Marion, Waynesboro
• 
  POM00003934 by Shull, James Marion, Waynesboro
• 
  POM00003935 by Shull, James Marion, Waynesboro
• 
  POM00003936 by Schutt, Ellen Isham, Patuxent
• 
  POM00004221 by Passmore, Deborah Griscom, Kansas City
• 
  POM00004222 by Passmore, Deborah Griscom, Woodside
• 
  POM00004223 by Heiges, Bertha creator artist USDA, Redlands
• 
  POM00004224 by Passmore, Deborah Griscom, San Luis Obispo
• 
  POM00004225 by Schutt, Ellen Isham, Goode

U.S. Department of Agriculture Pomological Watercolor Collection. Rare and Special Collections, National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD 20705