[From the river Catawba in S. Carolina, U.S. (named from the Katahba Indians), where the grape was first discovered.]
[1775. Adair, Amer. Ind., 223. I begin with the Katahba, because their country is the most contiguous to Charles-Town.]
a. An American species of grape (Vitis Labrusca), which is largely cultivated in the central States of the American Union. b. The light sparkling rich-flavored wine made from this grape (first made c. 1830). More fully Catawba grape, wine.
1857. Rep. Commiss. Patents Washington, 433. The Catawba is the grape generally planted in vineyards for the production of wine.
c. 1857. Longf., Birds of Passage, ‘Catawba Wine.’ For Catawba wine Has need of no sign, No tavern-bush to proclaim it.
1864. Browning, Sludge. It was your own wine, sir, the good Champagne (I took it for Catawba, you’re so kind).
1867. Atlantic Monthly, Aug., 241. Five thousand gallons of the still unvexed Catawba.
