Aren't sultanas white grapes and raisins red grapes in a former life?

Sultanas are better for lighter, less sweet recipies, like rice puddings or in "English" curries (yellow water, elderly carrot, 3 bits of unidentified meat, 1/2lb sultanas). Raisins are more robust and are better for preserved fruit pies (mince pies - too early to explain mincemeat to anyone), fruit cake, Spotted Dick (see note about mincemeat) and Christmas pudding.

Alternately, Sultanas are called Sultanas in the same way that the wife of a prince is called a princess....

LTS