Tag Archives: Growing
Introduction to Wine Grape Growing
Intro to A Glass Of Wine Grape Expanding
While white wine can absolutely be made from a variety of various veggie matters, most white wines are produced from grapes. Actually, grapes frequently grow in areas where it is hard if not difficult to grow other crops. Bordeaux, France is understood for creating a few of the most effective grapes, and also wines, worldwide; nevertheless, initially glance the unfertile, stony ground because area would certainly seem an unlikely expanding area. In order to completely recognize the process of making exceptional a glass of wine, it is very important to comprehend how grapes are grown and also collected. This is specifically important if you desire to expand your own grapes for the objective of wine making.
There are in fact greater than five thousand various ranges of wine grapes. There are just 2 broad households; nevertheless. They are Vitis Vinifera as well as Vitis Labrusca. Vitis Vinifera is a European sort of grape and include Red wine, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and also Riesling. Vitis Labrusca consists of American grapes such as Concord, Catawba, Delaware and Niagara.
The process of expanding grapes is called viticulture. Variables such as dirt, color, chemicals, geology, topography and also environment are very important to that process. Most of the times, grapes begin to bud during the spring as well as after that expand and establish fruit throughout the summer.
Throughout the development period, it is exceptionally important to reduce the development of the fallen leaves, so as to enable even more sunshine to reach the grape cluster. Conscientious growers need to likewise take treatment to be on guard for indications of condition, pests and also of course, dry spell.
By very early loss the grapes are reading for gathering. The precise time at which grapes need to be collected can depend rather on the regional environment as well as your own individual judgment.
The stage throughout which grapes begin to transform color is referred to as vèraison. This is a specifically essential stage for red or black grapes. Despite what color they will at some point come to be, all grapes begin as dark eco-friendly as well as hard. It is just during the ripening stage in the sun that they start to take on their real color. It is during this time that white varieties of grapes will certainly start to achieve their golden tone and red selections of grapes will begin to handle their deep purple tone.
The all-natural sugar content as well as the perfection of grapes establish the appropriate time for harvesting. When grapes are commonly prepared to harvest, the leaves on the grapevines of white selections will start to transform yellow while the leaves of red varieties will certainly take on a red hue.
You may have wondered what make up the different cost of wines when you acquire them in a white wine shop. The most pricey red wines are produced from the initial pressing of the grapes. This is frequently referred to as totally free run red wine. Second and also 3rd pressings of the grape juice results in wine that described as press a glass of wine. Press red wine is cheaper than cost-free run a glass of wine due to the fact that it is commonly not of the very same quality. The majority of press a glass of wine does not have the level of smoothness of free run a glass of wine. This is the fantastic advantage of having the ability to expand your very own grapes and also then press them for your individual a glass of wine. You can have the advantage of enjoying very first press wine and the smoothness that is connected with it.
Growing Grapes For Wine – Healthy Grape Vines For a Great Wine
If you are a gardening enthusiast or a wine lover, growing grapes for wine may be an exciting activity for you. Making your own wine is indeed a good idea. You must remember though your backyard grapes may not be the variety that is great for wine making, thus if you want to venture into growing grapes for wine, here are some important tips that you may consider.
Choosing your wine grape
One main factor in making best wines, of course, is having the best quality of grapes. The variety of your grape vines should be the first consideration. Choose a type that is great for wine making and pick a variety that can thrive well with the climatic condition of your area. Most often, grapes grown healthily on areas with hot and dry summer and mild winters, as very low temperatures during winter can kill the grape vines.
Choosing your location
Make sure to choose a location that there is plenty of sun. This will in the proper ripening of the fruits that will contribute also to the taste of your wine. Other major considerations to take note in growing grapes for wine making include the soil, the topography, the fertilizers and the climatic conditions of your area. Planting your grape vines can also be done in slopes because these areas have good drainage and prevent the roots to be soaked with too much in water and that can freeze in winter. Slopes facing south are the best locations that you can get for growing grapes for wine as these areas will sure get good sunshine for your wine grapes. Bathing your vines with good sunlight helps a lot in the formation of sugars in fruits that become alcohol after fermentation. Beware of low lying areas too as these are prone to frosts that can damage your vines.
Disease and Pest Control
Like any other crop, growing grapes also involves monitoring especially for possible attack of pests and diseases. You can make use of pest attractants to drive pests away from the fruits. At mid summer when the fruits begin to swell and ripen, birds also begin to peck on the fruits, thus, before everything will be gone, you can put nets over the vines to stop them from feeding on the fruits. A gardening net would be a great one for this purpose.
Pruning for better fruits
Pruning your grape vines is also a factor that you should consider in growing grapes for wine, as this affects the production of good quality fruits. Pruning will help balance the production of fruits and prevent overbearing, which can lead to poor fruit quality. Aside from getting rid of messy vines, pruning also allows sunlight to nourish the vines well and helps maintain disease-free vines.
Harvesting your grapes
Harvesting the fruits at the right time is also important in growing grapes for wine making. It is not just enough also to look at the color of the fruits to determine if it is in its right ripeness for harvesting. Tasting the grapes is recommended. You can start harvesting your grapes if the seeds are dark or brownish and if the sugar level is just right. You can also make use of hydrometer to help you determine the sugar content of the grapes and if it is already right for harvesting.
Wine Grapes for Growing
When it comes to varieties of wine grapes for growing, it would take an enormous amount of time. So, let’s look at just a few of the most popular.
Black Spanish Southern Wine Grapes: This grape is juicy with a blackish-blue skin. This grape is good for making juice, jelly or wine. The vine is a great producer that is resistant to Pierce Disease and mildew. This grape is more suited for hot climates. The wine is similar to a Merlot or Cabernet wine. The grapes usually ripen in August to September
Blanc du Bois Wine Grapes: This grape is best suited for hot climates. This is an award-winning cultivar that makes excellent premium white wine. This grape is very resistant to Pierce disease.
Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Grapes: This grape is a small, round black renowned red wine producer. The fruit ripens in late September to October and can be grown in fairly cold to hot climates (not cold).
Champagne Wine Grape: This is a tiny grape also known as Black Corinth. The plant is suited mostly for hot climates.
Champanel Wine Grape: This grape can be used as a table grape or a wine grape. The plant is suited mostly for hot humid climates. The plant is resistant to heat and drought and also resistant to Pierce disease. This vine produces large, loose clusters of grapes. The fruit usually ripens in early July.
Chardonnay Wine Grapes: This vine produces a small round grape with a green skin. This grape is primarily used for making white wine. The fruit is usually harvested in late September through early October. This plant will grow in cold to hot climates.
Pinot Noir Wine Grape: This grape is a variety of the famous Burgandy wine region in Northern France. Some growers say the vine is finicky to grow. This vine grows best in cool to hot climates.
Sauvignon Blanc Wine Grape: This variety is used to make quality white table wines. The fruit is small, well formed in compact clusters and has a greenish color. This grape may produce a natural sweet wine. The plant ripens in mid-August to early September and likes cool to hot climates.
Merlot Wine Grape: The fruit grows in medium to large cluster. The grapes are medium sized, round bluish-black and ripens in late September to early October. This grape prefers cool to hot climates.
Pinot Gris Wine Grapes: This grape makes a low acid, white wine of exceptional color and taste. The flavor has been described as having a pear and spice cake flavor. The vine is also known as the Pinot Grigio which is thought to be a clone of the Pinot Noir. The fruit is a deep yellow to a copper color. The flavor will depend on the region it is grown in. The vines prefer cool to hot tempetures.
Zinfandel Wine Grape: The plant produces a purple to black colored grape. The fruit is juicy and medium size with a round shape. The grapes ripen in August and grow well in cool to hot climates.
This is just eleven of thousands of grape varieties. Therefore, you should check with the agriculture department in your area to find out what type of grape will grow best in your climate.
Happy grape growing,
S. S. Barnett
More Merlot Wine Articles
Growing Wine Grapes
While growing wine grapes, the basic thing to remember is that each grape variety is unique in its own way with its own distinct flavor and characteristics. Grapes from the Vitis vinifera family are the most commonly used variety of grapes used for wine making. Usually this variety is found in Europe but there are varieties that are abundant in North America as well. The Vitis Labrusca is another popular variety and is commonly found in eastern parts of United States and Canada.
Success in growing wine grapes largely depends on suitable climatic conditions and the variety of vine you choose. These are the most important factors in growing wine grapes which ultimately decide the quality of grapes. Extreme climatic conditions may destroy the whole crop and it cannot be imagined how destructive it can be. Under ideal conditions such a variety should be chosen which ripens during the cooler temperatures instead of summers.
Though soil condition is important for any type of vineyard, they can still be manipulated by adding fertilizers and minerals. The most important thing is to provide necessary mineral content to the roots. You need to test the soil and see if it is free of toxic mineral content. Irrigation channels can be provided so as to make sure that that there is enough soil moisture level.
However, climatic conditions cannot be changed and the only way you can probably provide somewhat better climatic condition is by application of greenhouse transplant. So make sure that the fruit varieties you choose have a proven track record of growing properly in the climatic zone you wish and desire to grow your wine grapes. This will help you greatly in improving your chances of an excellent harvest of grape wine.
It may so happen that you don’t have an alternative. However, in case you are successful in choosing your area for growing wine grapes, care should be taken to avoid such areas where there are very low winter and spring temperatures. Moreover you should also avoid such areas where there is frequent or excessive change in temperatures or there are early frost fall.
Avoid Vine Direction Disasters
Since frost plays a very destructive role in growing wine grapes, you should see to it that you don’t choose lowlands for cultivation since these are the areas where frost hits the hardest. Usually frost settles in these areas first and remains there for a long time. For growing grape wines it is better to choose slopes facing south as there is a bit more sunshine. In areas of high rainfall slopes facing east are better as the rising sun dries the slopes faster. This helps in reducing diseases caused due to accumulation of moisture.
Three crucial factors are to be kept in mind while speaking about climate:
The climate of the region: this includes humidity and temperature range.
The climate of the site: includes drainage and slope.
The climate of grape vine: includes environment within a specified area like a cluster and canopy.
The place you choose should have a long growing season so that vines properly mature. It means that there should be enough sunlight while the fruit ripens because sunlight is most essential while the fruit ripens.
Though it may seem as if there are a number of things to consider, be assured that the plant needs your attention not just once. After they are put in the ground the grape plants only need pruning from time to time. You should be able to find out the right place for growing wine grapes. Though it may take some time, but once you have found it, half the task is done. The next step is to choose a grape variety that suites that particular climatic condition. You can also ask for expert guidance from experienced grape and vineyard growers which would take you to the path of success.
Napa Valley Wine Country And Wine Growing Region
Napa Valley is truly an unbelievable Mediterranean oasis in the middle of Northern California’s gorgeous rolling hills. Nestled inside of what many refer to as the “wine country,” Napa is world-renowned for the incredible grapes and wine it produces. Visitors to the town will be astounded by both the incredible beauty of the area as well as the amazing amount that wine has infiltrated the culture here. It seems that everywhere you turn there is either an entrance to a majestic vineyard, rolling hills of vines, a quaint wine shop, or a sophisticated restaurant offering an extensive menu of fine wines for you to enjoy. A getaway to Napa will truly let you escape from your hectic everyday life, letting you live, if only for a moment, the Edenic, blissful life of Napa Valley.
Located in the heart of the region known as “Wine Country,” Napa contains more than 350 wineries for your enjoyment, most of which ship wine internationally and have gained international fame for their taste and overall quality. More than 3 million visitors per year visit this astounding region, wishing to catch a glimpse of the natural abundance for which the Napa Valley is famed. The reason Napa is so adept at growing grapes is the dry, warm Mediterranean climate afforded to it by its location in a protected valley of Northern California. The soil is very rich and arid, and this fertility combined with the magnificently temperate weather and moderate yet consistent waterfall means an almost ideal location – similar to that of the famed grape-growing regions of France and the rest of southern Europe – for vineyard cultivation. The Napa Valley is already well on its way to becoming an international wine powerhouse, but the discovery of its fertile soil is by no means a new development.
In the middle of the 19th century, pioneer George Yount moved to the Napa Valley and planted the very first crop of wine grapes ever in the region. During his lifetime, the wine industry did not take off, but after he gave his business to his son-in-law, Yount’s original intention finally came to fruition. Grape-growing soon flourished in the fertile Napa Valley, attracting many more affluent growers from around the country and world who were seeking out the Next Big Thing in American agriculture. Charles Krug began Napa Valley’s first actual winery, distilling and creating the first signature wines of the Napa Valley and in the process transforming the valley from what was just an agricultural area into the prosperous distilling and bottling region we know and love today. Interestingly, you can still visit the historic Krug family winery today, bottling many kinds of fine wines such as Cabernet, Chardonnay, Pinor Noir, and Merlot. At the turn of the 20th century, Napa had begun its rise to becoming the formidable and prosperous viticulture region to which visitors now flock from all over the world.
One of the best ways to take advantage of this wine-growing region is to take tours of the seemingly endless number of wineries located in Napa Valley. Surrounded by the majestic, rolling hills that will likely resemble the gorgeous slopes of Tuscany to any who have visited there, these tours will be a great way to get a taste (literally!) of the natural wonders of the Napa Valley as well as get a hands-on look at how some of your favorite wines are created. Usually, these tours take you on a guided tour around their various crops of grapes, then give you a behind-the-scenes look at how their winery operates, from the crushing of the grapes to a glimpse at the carefully-maintained barrels that infuse the grapes with the winery’s signature flavor. These tours can be a great way to get a behind-the-scenes look at how your favorite wines are crafted – and many times they offer free wine tasting as part of the package!
Napa Valley is truly one of the most exquisite regions of California. Covered in glorious vine-lined hills and dotted with quaint little towns that truly make you feel like king or queen for the weekend, taking a trip to this luxurious northern California valley will surely be a highlight of your year.
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