Goethe is one of the collection of grape varieties known as Rogers' Hybrids, created by Edward Staniford Rogers of Salem, Massachusetts, in the mid-19th century, and is the result of a cross of Carter, a selection of Vitis labrusca, and Black Hamburg (there are two varieties known by this name, but in this case it was probably Schiava Grossa), a selection of Vitis vinifera.

1, until Rogers named it after Johann Wolfgang Goethe, the German author, artist, and scientist.

[1][2][3] Goethe is female, and thus requires a second grape variety as a pollen source.

Fruit is a pale red, ripens late, and is prone to rot.

Hedrick considered it the most vinifera-like of the Rogers' Hybrids, but while of high quality, it rarely reaches full maturity in shorter-seasoned climates, and only achieved a measure of popularity in the Mid-Atlantic and Mid-West United States.