Red Winesap Apple Tree

About the Winesap Apple Tree

The Winesap Apple Tree is a time-honored American favorite, celebrated for its deep red color, firm texture, and rich, spicy flavor. This improved all-red strain produces medium-sized apples with crisp yellow flesh and a sweet-tart balance that’s more robust and aromatic than Stayman. Winesap apples shine in the kitchen—excellent for baking, cider, sauces, and especially prized for cider making—and their exceptional keeping quality allows them to store well into spring under refrigeration. Ripening from mid-October into early November depending on location, this late-season apple offers dependable color, flavor, and longevity.

Hardy in USDA Zones 4–9, the Winesap Apple adapts well to a range of climates and shows strong resistance to russeting, cracking, and common diseases including cedar apple rust, powdery mildew, and fire blight. Its distinctive flavor and long storage life make it a staple for home growers seeking a classic apple with lasting culinary versatility.

How to Grow the Winesap Apple Tree

Plant the Winesap Apple Tree in full sun and well-draining soil, giving it adequate space and airflow to support strong structure and fruit quality. Prune during the dormant season to open the canopy, encourage healthy fruiting wood, and maintain color characteristics. Although noted for its vigor, Winesap requires a compatible pollination partner—such as Red or Yellow Delicious, Jonathan, Gala, or Fuji—for best yields. With consistent water and routine care, this reliable apple tree produces flavorful, late-season harvests year after year.