Hello group,
I am a total newbie to making wine and growing grapes. And I'm looking for any advice you can give me. I have about forty acres in North East Texas near Commerce. (Elevation is about 655 ft and there are approx 2300 GDD.) It has good, well drained soil and I want to try growing wine grapes. For the last couple weeks I've been researching via the internet. The best websites I've found so far are:
Any other websites on grape growing would be helpful. Are there any grape growing discussion group forums?
I plan on trying to grow about 1 acre of grapes from cuttings. I want to grow classic vinifera such as cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay. The only source I've found so far for cuttings is Double A Vineyards in New York. Are there better sources? Is it crucial to get certified cuttings from the region I'll be growing? Or would I be better off getting vines grafted to a specific rootstock?
I want to begin construction soon and I'm not real sure about the best way to go about getting prepared. Do I need to construct the entire training & irrigation system before I plant? How many varieties should I start out with? Should the different varieties be spaced further apart or does it make any difference? Can I use one training system for all varieties?
The only book I've purchased so far is called "First Steps in Winemaking" by C.J.J. Berry, and it is not a very good book. I want to buy "From Vines To Wines", but I'm not sure if this is what I'm looking for either. Any recommendations, specifically about growing wine grapes?
Also, I was wondering about how to tell when you have a good grape crop. Are there tests or do you have to develop a taste for the grapes over years of experience? I plan to visit area vineyards and ask questions there also, I'm just afraid I'm too late. I'll appreciate any information. I just don't want to waste a lot of time and money, so I'm trying to find as many information sources as possible so I can grow the best possible grape. Thanks in advance.
Troy Hart