Growing grapes outside...

I just wondered if anyone had successfully grown grapes purely externally? I imaging this only applies to those 'down south' but I fancy a challenge and wondered if there were any varieties you would recommend? I'm interested in both/either eating and wine varieties.

Thanks

This link works better. http://www.growyourown.info/page74.html

I have a large grape vine in a 2ft wide pot I always end up having to cut it back before the fruits get big so I've no idea if there any good.

We had a young vine in a deep pot in North Wales and had eight bunches of (rather sour) grapes in 2011, but none last year with all the rain.



There is a grape on a wooden fence on the side of the road which is donkeys years old, near Chester, and the grapes are plentiful and sweet. We used to grab some when we were riding past. And a pub we used to go to a lot on the border has a huge vine with masses of grapes every year, even last year. Both these are planted in the ground. So even this far north they can grow big over time.

I grow a Madeleine Sylvaner dessert grape on a south western facing pergola overlooking the English Channel and the grapes are edible 5 years out of 6 since we started growing. he plant took three years to really produce anything substantial - so its been in place for 9 years.  The one year they weren't edible straight from the vine, we made grape jelly out of them.

After 9 years, it is very prolific and knarled.  However, I will say, I am going to try to master pruning the grapes as they tend to be a bit small with large pips which puts some off - but we love showing off in summer when we put out the cheese board and cut the grapes, to go with it, straight from the garden in front of the guests!