I learned from my friend who had a vineyard that the most important ingredient to the success of a vineyard was its location. In Virginia, for example, planting grapes on the sides of south or southwest facing hills was preferred to planting down in the valleys as this location could often provide better protection from unexpected frosts. Every location will have a more preferable spot, and it is good to learn from those who are already having success with their vineyard.
Grapes love lots of sunshine, and warm, dry summers with mild winters. Grapevines need a period of winter dormancy, but locations with long, cold, severe winters may well cause them to die. It takes a long growing season for the grapes to fully ripen and mature. Humid conditions, especially in the summer months, are often the source of disease. Good locations for grape planting is away from trees as grapes prefer full sunlight, and you want to avoid shade. The roots of grapevines need good drainage at all times so you want to avoid areas of ongoing moisture or standing water.
Once you have a desired location, you need to decide on what grape varieties you want to grow. Red and white wines are produced by different types of grapes, and many wines are made from a blend of different grapes.Choose high quality grapes if your desire is to make good quality tasting wine. Grape quality is the vital ingredient for producing great tasting wine. Check with any local vineyards first to find out what grapes are giving them the most success.
Grape planting needs to be done in rows about eight feet wide, and plant the vines about six feet apart. You will need to supply a trellis for the grapevines to grow on. In the first year, the strongest shoot can be tied with string to the trellis. Avoid using wire for this as it can damage the shoots. You will need to study how to prune the shoots so that the strongest shoots will become the arms of the vine where the grapes will grow.
If you are growing wine grapes for the purpose of making wine, that will require separate study and know how. I have heard some vintner’s say that growing the grapes was the easy part, and making the wine was the challenge. I will be posting more soon on ways to make wine along with some good recipes.
Learning how to grow grapes, and the process of growing grapes, can take years in order to make wine. Armed with all the right guidance and information, growing grapes can be an easy, rewarding experience. Growing wine grapes may come with some challenges, but it is precisely that which only makes the reward that much sweeter. I look forward to the day when I can pour my wine glass full of my own homemade, homegrown wine.
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