Anybody here grow their own grapes, make their own wine? | FerrariChat
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Anybody here grow their own grapes, make their own wine?

Discussion in 'Drink, Smoke, and Fine Dining' started by velocetwo, Aug 28, 2010.

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  1. velocetwo

    velocetwo F1 World Champ

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    #1 velocetwo, Aug 28, 2010
    Anybody here grow their own grapes, make their own wine?
     
  2. vincent355

    vincent355 F1 Veteran
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    #2 vincent355, Aug 28, 2010
    About 40 cases from my front yard.
     
  3. Dom

    Dom F1 Veteran
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    #3 Dom, Aug 28, 2010
    I have a grape vine in my yard, but it's not enough to make wine. Not to mention that the birds usually get the grapes before we do...
     
  4. MarkPDX

    MarkPDX F1 World Champ
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    #4 MarkPDX, Aug 28, 2010
    I have a few vines but nowhere near enough to make any wine with, just ate the grapes and that was it.
     
  5. velocetwo

    velocetwo F1 World Champ

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    #5 velocetwo, Aug 28, 2010
    going to plant 120-150 vines any suggertions on what type of trellis. Hot dry rock, california soil.
     
  6. kali

    kali Formula Junior

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    #6 kali, Aug 31, 2010
    My best friend's grandfather, an old weathered Italian fellow, used to have a trallelis in his backyard, and would make enough each year to last through until the next.

    My old roomie use to brew his own beer, does that fall into the same hat at all?
     
  7. Jeff Kennedy

    Jeff Kennedy F1 Veteran
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    #7 Jeff Kennedy, Aug 31, 2010
    Call David Abreu and bring money.

    Jeff
     
  8. nerd

    nerd F1 Rookie

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    #8 nerd, Aug 31, 2010
    Last edited: Aug 31, 2010
  9. velocetwo

    velocetwo F1 World Champ

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    #9 velocetwo, Sep 5, 2010
    Thanks,

    I am in El Dorado county, we are now fenced off, about once a year when the deer are in rut we get one or two that jump the fence. I will check out the course.
     
  10. velocetwo

    velocetwo F1 World Champ

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    #10 velocetwo, Sep 15, 2010
    Just found trellising equipment for 4 acres. End poles, stakes drip the whole works. Can't wait!!

    Now I have to pick the types of grapes...
     
  11. Jedi

    Jedi Moderator
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    #11 Jedi, Sep 15, 2010
    Wow! THAT is an ambitious project.... FOUR acres of grapes?

    I want to start a SMALL arbor next spring. But nothing like THAT!

    Jedi
     
  12. velocetwo

    velocetwo F1 World Champ

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    #12 velocetwo, Sep 16, 2010
    I hoping once you get all the parts you just get it in the ground ! I have run some plant nurseries in the past , so its not too intimidating.

    As far as the wine making goes I have to figure that one out, but I have 3-4 years to understand that.
     
  13. jimpo1

    jimpo1 Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #13 jimpo1, Sep 21, 2010
    This winery belongs to good friends of ours, and the wine is actually pretty tasty. I helped him select the blend of the 07 Cabernet one night at his house. We sampled many options and both agreed on which should be the final product.

    http://meadowlarkvineyards.com/meadowlarkvineyards/
     
  14. velocetwo

    velocetwo F1 World Champ

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    #14 velocetwo, Oct 1, 2010

    Nice a southern effort! Just watched the movie Blood to Wine about some guys who start a vineyard in Arizona. pretty good
     
  15. velocetwo

    velocetwo F1 World Champ

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    #15 velocetwo, Mar 17, 2011
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  16. velocetwo

    velocetwo F1 World Champ

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    #16 velocetwo, Mar 21, 2011
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  17. velocetwo

    velocetwo F1 World Champ

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    #17 velocetwo, Mar 27, 2011
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  18. velocetwo

    velocetwo F1 World Champ

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    #18 velocetwo, Mar 27, 2011
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    Vine will be shipped in a week, so I have to get ready. I want to plant the bare root vines as soon as I receive them, so I am pre digging the holes to make the planting process quicker. Fortunately it rained for the last week so the soil is moist.
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  19. velocetwo

    velocetwo F1 World Champ

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    #19 velocetwo, Mar 30, 2011
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    Novavine's Sangiovese VCR23 110R root stock arrives! All in good shape, I will give them a few days in the box to acclimate before I plant.

    Nova vine of Santa Rosa produces some of the best vineyard stock in the world. The rest is up to me and the Terroir!
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  20. atomicskiracer

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    #20 atomicskiracer, Mar 31, 2011
    Very cool stuff!! Thanks for the updates!
     
  21. CAS

    CAS F1 Rookie

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    #21 CAS, Mar 31, 2011
    This is awesome! Please continue to post updates.

    Are you blending the Sang with anything? If you're comfortable answering (not intended to intrude), what state are you located in? There are all kinds of microclimates in and around vineyards, so I am interested in hearing how you picked the spot and then the grape.

    Outside of that, once you are ready to harvest, are you going to press and blend yourself?

    Really cool project, thanks for sharing!
     
  22. velocetwo

    velocetwo F1 World Champ

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    #22 velocetwo, Mar 31, 2011
    Thanks I am in Northern California, near one of the areas were grapes were first grown in the state. After the Gold miners ran out of gold many turned to farming and quite a few vineyards were started near the original gold strike area known as Sutter's mill. As you travel up and down HWY 49 in the gold strike area of California you will see a lot of vineyards.

    I picked the Sangiovese because I have high heat conditions during summer and fall. The rootstock and clone are matched to the soil.

    I would like to blend some of the wine, similar to a Super Tuscan? I will keep you posted.
     
  23. velocetwo

    velocetwo F1 World Champ

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    #23 velocetwo, Apr 1, 2011
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  24. velocetwo

    velocetwo F1 World Champ

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    #24 velocetwo, Apr 7, 2011
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    Ok so now it's time to put in the irrigation. I found you always want to get the irrigation in prior to the plants going into the ground, that way you can get the water on them fast and consistently, avoiding any possibility of stress or death.

    I am running 3/4 inch solid schedule 40 pipe connected to a pressure regulator and filer. I attach the drip tube to the filter and it hangs on the bottom wire of my trellis, using special clamps. Drip emitters are then attached underneath the drip tube so they drip right onto the vines. This allows me to conserve water and keeps the weeds from growing between the rows.
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  25. velocetwo

    velocetwo F1 World Champ

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    #25 velocetwo, Apr 7, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Now that the irrigation is installed I can plant the bare root vines. These are actually two plants grafted together. The root section is picked for the type of soil and diseases/pest resistance. The upper portion where the grapes grow is the variety of grape.

    I soak the bare roots in a bucket of water for a few hours so they can hydrate prior to planting.

    I ran into a small problem, I am noticing more gophers I may change my game plan ...
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