| Today, you will learn about different varieties of | | | | question asked by many growers. A bi-lateral |
| wine making grape, how to assess their suitability | | | | cordon training system with a vertical trellis and |
| for your vineyard climate and soil type, and the | | | | the Geneva Double Curtain systems have been |
| best trellis structures for them. The most | | | | used with good successes as this vine has a |
| common commercial wine grape variety in the | | | | trailing growth habit. |
| world is the Vitis vinifera species. In North | | | | Another species is the V. rotundifolia (muscadine), |
| America, the V. labrusca is widely cultivated and | | | | a native of South Eastern United States. This |
| to a lesser extent, the V. rotundifolia. | | | | species enjoys warm, humid conditions and is a |
| The V. vinifera is a fairly hardy species that likes | | | | very popular Florida grape. How to improve yield |
| mild winters and long, hot growing seasons. This | | | | is a common question, as this grape grows in |
| species requires soil pH of about 6.5. Well-known | | | | very small clusters. The vines must get full sun |
| varieties include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot | | | | for most of the day during the growing season to |
| Noir, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc | | | | maximize fruit set and production. Fruity flavored |
| and Riesling. Popular in Europe, this cultivar has an | | | | wines are produced from this grape. How to |
| upright growth habit, making an upward vertical | | | | prevent plant failure is another problem faced by |
| shoot positioning trellis system the most suitable. | | | | growers, as muscadines is very unforgiving of |
| Shoots are positioned vertically upward through a | | | | wet feet. They are not fussy about the type of |
| set of catch wires as they grow from a mid- or | | | | soil so long as drainage is good. The ideal soil pH is |
| low-wire cordon or cane. The Concord grape, | | | | between 5.8 and 6.5. This vine has a trailing |
| which is of the V. labrusca species, is a cold | | | | growth habit and can produce between 35 and 60 |
| climate grape. | | | | pounds of fruit per vine. |
| It can withstand severe winters, as well as late | | | | A sturdy trellis is essential. A high trellis cordon |
| spring and early fall frosts to minus 15 degrees F. | | | | system would work, although using the Geneva |
| Concord is tolerant of a wide range of soil types. | | | | Double Curtain or a high bilateral cordon will |
| In North America, it is cultivated in the northern | | | | support heavier crops. While matching the vine |
| growing regions such as Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, | | | | variety to the climate of your location is a major |
| the Finger Lakes District of New York, South | | | | determinant for the success of your grape |
| Western Michigan and the Yakima Valley in | | | | growing effort, choosing the correct trellis support |
| Washington. It is quite versatile, being well known | | | | system influences the yield and quality of the |
| for making sweet wines, jellies and juices, and | | | | grapes you produce. Of course, other vineyard |
| even as a table grape! However, it has a poor | | | | practices such as training and pruning, canopy |
| reputation for making dry wines due to the | | | | management, irrigation, weed and disease control |
| muskiness of the Concord grape. How to | | | | and pest management all interact together to |
| successfully produce a great dry wine from this | | | | affect your vineyard's final yield and quality. I will |
| variety involves tending the vines with care to | | | | write more on these topics in the near future. In |
| avoid over-cropping and allowing the fruit to ripen | | | | the meantime if you would like some further |
| well before harvesting this grape. How to get the | | | | information on wine making then visit my website. |
| best yield and quality of Concord grapes is a | | | | |