Mission grapes are a variety of Vitis vinifera introduced from Spain to the western coasts of North and South America in the 1500s by Roman Catholic missionaries for use in making sacramental wine. The original European strain has been lost, thus the grapes' being named "Mission grapes" since the Catholic missions are where they were generally grown. Until about 1850, Mission grapes, or Criolla, represented the entirety of viticulture in California. Binomial name Vitis vinifera L. For thousands of years, the fruit and plant of Vitis vinifera, the European grapevine, have been harvested for both medicinal and nutritional value; its history is intimately entwined with the history of wine. ... World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... ---- Events and Trends Leonardo da Vinci paints the Mona Lisa Spanish arrive in present-day Gulf of Mexico External links 1500-1524 Events 1500-1509 Events Categories: 1500s ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... The Spanish Missions in California (more simply referred to as the California Missions) comprise a series of religious outposts established by Spanish Catholic Dominicans, Jesuits, and Franciscans, to spread the Christian doctrine among the local Native Americans, but with the added benefit of giving Spain a toehold in the frontier... A sacrament is a Christian rite that mediates divine grace—a holy mystery. ... Wine is an alcoholic beverage produced by the fermentation of fruit, typically grapes though a number of other fruits are also quite popular - such as plum, elderberry and blackcurrant. ... 1850 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... wine grapes Viticulture (from the Latin word for vine) refers to the cultivation of grapes, often for use in the production of wine. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ...

Red and white wine, sweet and dry wine, and brandy were all produced from Mission grapes. Though Mission grape vines are heavy producers and can adapt to a variety of climates, wine made from the fruit tends to be rather characterless, and thus their use in wine making has diminished in modern times.