The fruit is a small grape 5–14 mm diameter, dark purple or black in colour.

Inter specific-hybrids made with the species V. aestivalis, such as Norton, have shown several useful traits for commercial wine production when compared with other North American native grape varieties.

These traits include: lower acidity, neutral, "vinifera-like" flavour profile, good tannin structure, and excellent disease resistance.

Unlike most other species in genus Vitis, V. aestivalis does not propagate well through dormant cuttings.

This has been a limiting factor for its use in commercial viticulture despite the species's promising oenological characteristics.