If you are looking for a completely reliable disease-resistant cooking apple, this is it.
Wolf River is a very large culinary apple, with a good tart flavor, dating back to the 19th century. It is best used in the kitchen, and slices will keep their shape when cooked. The flesh is quite dry - a useful quality when baking as it means the pastry is not flooded with too much liquid.
Wolf River applesauce often has an attractive pale pink color.
This is a fool-proof variety which will keep you supplied with heavyweight apples with little effort on your part.
Wolf River pre-dates the development of modern disease-resistant apples, but has a high resistance to scab and mildew. It is however somewhat susceptible to fireblight.
The tree is also exceptionally winter-hardy, long-lived and productive. A particular characteristic of Wolf River is that it leafs out very late in the spring.
Be sure to pick the apples before they are fully ripe, as they do not keep.
Wolf River was found in the Wolf River valley of Wisconsin, USA around 1875. It is thought to be a seedling of a Russian variety called Alexander.
This variety description was researched and written by Orange Pippin staff. Last checked: 2024.