Beefsteak Tomato
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Vintage Wine tomato is a stunning 1980s heirloom that will stop visitors in their tracks with its deep chocolate red skin streaked with brilliant green and gold stripes. This Brandywine descendant produces massive 1-pound fruits that live up to their name, with flesh that resembles a glass of rich Sonoma County Merlot. Hardy in zones 2-11, these indeterminate giants reach 5-6 feet tall and deliver their first harvest in 65-80 days, though some sources report up to 89 days for peak flavor development.
Full Sun
Moderate
2-11
72in H x ?in W
Annual, Perennial
High
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What sets Vintage Wine apart is its dramatic bicolor appearance and the surprise inside each massive tomato. The deep chocolate red exterior with metallic green striping gives way to sunset-colored flesh that mirrors fine wine. Despite weighing a full pound each, these fruits maintain tender, thin skin perfect for fresh eating while being substantial enough for market sales. The plants are incredibly productive, requiring sturdy staking to support the abundance of large fruits they produce throughout the season.
Vintage Wine excels as a premium slicing tomato, with its substantial size and striking appearance making it perfect for showcase sandwiches and salads where visual impact matters. The meaty texture and complex flavor make it ideal for fresh eating applications, while the thicker skin provides enough structure for farmers market sales. Its impressive size and unique coloration also make it a conversation starter at garden tours and harvest displays.
Plant seeds 1/4 inch deep in well-draining seed starting mix and maintain consistent temperatures of 70-80°F for germination in 5-10 days. Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged during the germination and seedling phase.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after they have developed strong stems and several sets of true leaves. Harden off gradually over 7-10 days by exposing to outdoor conditions before transplanting to a sunny location with well-draining, fertile soil.
Harvest when fruits have developed their full chocolate red color with bright striping and give slightly to gentle pressure. Look for the flesh to show beautiful sunset orange coloring throughout. Since this is an indeterminate variety, harvest continuously throughout the season until frost. Gently twist ripe tomatoes from the vine rather than pulling to avoid plant damage.
As an indeterminate variety, Vintage Wine benefits from regular pruning of suckers to direct energy into fruit production and maintain manageable plant size. Remove lower leaves that touch the ground to improve air circulation and reduce disease pressure.
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“Vintage Wine emerged in the 1980s as a relatively new addition to the heirloom tomato world, developed from a strain of the beloved striped Brandywine varieties in the United States. Though fairly new to the scene compared to century-old heirlooms, it has quickly gained recognition for combining the classic Brandywine flavor profile with its own unique visual drama. This variety represents the ongoing work of plant breeders and seed savers who continue to develop new expressions of heritage genetics, proving that heirloom development didn't stop in the early 1900s.”