grape growing adventures at Salado Vineyard

2012 Learn More about Grape Growing

Grape Growers:

 Happy New Year!  Please mark your calendars for the following upcoming viticulture and enology events. 

 

Pruning Workshops:

There will be two pruning workshops in the Gulf Coast region in the month of January.  The dates and locations are below, however I will follow-up with a reminder email one week before each pruning event which will contain directions to the vineyard site and other details regarding the material covered.  Please save the date and plan to attend a workshop near you.  There is no fee for the pruning workshops.

 January 18, Wednesday 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Weslaco, Texas.  Workshop focus: 1-year-old vines: Vertical Shoot Positioned, Geneva Double Curtain, and Watson High Bilateral training systems.

 January 25, Wednesday 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., Richards, Texas. Workshop focus: 1 to 3-year-old vines, on Vertical Shoot Positioned and Watson High Bilateral training systems.

 Additionally, Haak Vineyard and Winery, in Santa Fe, Texas will again be hosting their annual pruning day and oyster fry on Saturday, January 14th.  There will be a very basic pruning demonstration of Vertical Shoot Positioned vines, starting at 9:00 a.m.  This is a fun opportunity for new or prospective growers.  For more information visit:  http://www.haakwine.com/events/event_schedule.php

Annual Gulf Coast Grape Grower Field Day 2012 – Save the Date – February 10

The 20th Annual Gulf Coast Grape Grower Field Day is set for Friday, February 10th 2012.  This meeting is organized by the Austin County Grape Grower Committee and the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, and will be held at Agricultural Society Hall in Cat Spring, TX.  The agenda is just about wrapped up and will be posted in a separate email.  Topics this year will include research demonstration results from Gulf Coast vineyards, soil moisture monitoring practices, advances in Pierce’s disease research,  new results for improving dry Lenoir wine, and much more.  Please RSVP via email if you wish to attend this event. Registration will be at the door on the day of the event.  It’s going to be a great meeting! 

Texas Wine & Grape Growers Association, Annual Conference and Trade Show – February 16-18

The annual conference and trade show will be held this year at the Embassy Suites, San Marcos, Texas from February 16-18th.  For more information please visit the TWGGA website at: http://www.txwines.org/conference/

Prospective Wine Grower Workshops

Grape growing is a labor intensive enterprise, which requires significant up-front investment in comparison to many other agriculture crops.  The Prospective Wine Grower Workshop was created by the Texas AgriLife Extension Viticulture team in order to educate farmers, entrepreneurs, or any individual considering planting a commercial vineyard.  This one-day educational event consists of a series of presentations that provide an overview of the unique requirements and risks associated with establishment and operation of a commercial vineyard in Texas. The workshop is co-instructed by the Texas AgriLife Extension Viticulture Advisors at multiple locations throughout the state.  If you or someone you know is interested in planting a commercial vineyard please bring these upcoming workshops to their attention.

2012 Schedule (8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.)

February  7th – Pittsburg, TX

March 14th – Houston, TX

May 4th – Fredericksburg, TX

June 15th – Lubbock, TX

 Workshop topics include:

• Vineyard Economics

• Necessary Viticulture Expertise

• Vineyard Site Considerations

• Risk Factors

• Vineyard Labor Requirements

Fee: $150 ($250 per couple), Includes lunch and all educational materials

Register Online: https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/index.cfm

?Enter keyword “wine” in search options

The Prospective Winegrower Workshop serves as a prerequisite for application to the Texas Viticulture Certificate Program, offered by Texas Tech University and Texas AgriLife Extension.

 Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or comments.

 Best regards,

 -Fritz

 Fritz Westover

Extension Program Specialist – Viticulture

Texas Gulf Coast Region

Texas AgriLife Extension Service

3033 Bear Creek Drive

Houston, Texas 77084

Office: 281-855-5608

Cell: 713-584-3360

Fax: 281-855-5638

Email: [email protected]

http://winegrapes.tamu.edu/

http://www.extension.org/grapes

 

Growing Grapes in your TX Backyard

shows bud breaking in spring on newly planted vine

bud break on newly planted vine

So, you would like to grow some grapes?  Well, you’re in the right state. 

Texas is home to the most native varieties in the world.   These vines evolved over thousands of years resistant to disease and bugs and are used as rootstock throughout the world.  (For more of the story, check out http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/southerngarden/Texaswine.html).  In fact one of the rootstocks used is named Dogridge, and it is named for the ridge on the north side of Stillhouse Lake, right in the heart of Bell County.

I find that the biggest obstacle to growing grapes is the birds, deer and raccoons.  For a quick video overview, check out http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/archives/video/detail.php?vidid=73&size=largevid

The next problem is selecting the appropriate variety.  It is highly recommended that you chose a variety that is resistant to Pierce’s Disease.  Among commercial growers, Black Spanish (a.k.a. Lenoir) and Blanc Dubois are the most favored.  A comprehensive list can be found at http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/fruit/piercegrapes/pdr.html and also at http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/fruitgarden/figure3.html

Now that you’re ready to buy, head on over to Womack Nursery, http://www.womacknursery.com/grapes.html.  While you’re there, pick out some rasberries, peaches and pecans for your yard too, so you won’t be so disappointed if the grapes don’t work out!

For advice on building an arbor, check out http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/homefruit/grapearbors/grape.html

And for more research, there are plenty of good articles at http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/lawn_garden/ and http://winegrapes.tamu.edu/.

Drought’s Imact on our Vineyard

08/11/2011 08:38 PM 

Central Texas grape harvest avoids full wrath of drought

 By: Chie Saito, Video Journalist, Bell County Beaureau, YNN

While many farmers and ranchers around the state have been burned by the combination of extreme heat and a dry summer, some Central Texas vineyard owners said their grape vines are fine.

Normally this time of year, June Ritterbusch would be preparing to harvest the grapes at her vineyard in Salado. The grapes she picks are made into wine, sold at the Salado Wine Seller. But this summer the grapes ripened a little quicker than normal due to the extreme heat, which meant picking them two weeks ahead of schedule. The effects of the triple digit temperatures can also be seen in the grapes themselves. “You could pick a certain weight of grapes, but when you go to make the wine there’s not as much liquid in them,” she said.

Less water in the fruit means there is less quantity, but it also makes for a more concentrated flavor in the grapes. While vineyards like hers were able to avoid the direct effects by the drought because they use an irrigation system, they were not able to avoid the indirect effects.

Jon Moore owns the Salado Creek Winery and Vineyard just down the street. Because it was so dry this year, he said the nets they use to normally protect their crop from birds and other wildlife were not as effective. “The rodents and the birds really got after us hard,” he said. So much so that he is now looking into beefing up protection next year through the use of technology which emits distress signals.

According to Moore, the impact of the heat is more apparent in the vines rather than the grapes. He said the new shoots coming out of the vines are quickly drying up, which could potentially impact vine growth next year.

Harvest 2011

Happy Grape-Pickers!

Wednesday, August 3 through Sunday August 7, 7-11 am

We’ll be harvesting merlot & cabernet sauvignon on Thursday, Friday, & Saturday, August 3-6, 2010 at 7 am – 11 am.  We will continue on Sunday 7-11 if there are too many grapes for Saturday.

If you have favorite prunners, bring them, otherwise we have extras for you.

Please bring your favorite hat, sunscreen, bug spray, and sturdy shoes. Come for the fun and camaraderie!  Kids welcome.

Beware of the wasps, fireants, mosquitos, and be prepared for the heat.  Well, maybe not the mosquitos this year.  But watch out for the mean old mockingbirds who think they own the vineyard!

The vineyard is at 21724 Hill Road, Salado.  Thanks for your continued interest in Salado Winery Company!

Salado Winery on front page of KDH Sunday Business Section

June picking grapes

photo by Andrew Brosig and published in Killeen Daily Herald

Enjoy your Sunday paper today, we’re on the front page of the Business section of the Killeen Daily Herald!  Okay, the section starts on page C7 and our story continues on page C10, so not exactly the biggest news story, but it’s a nice summary of what we’ve been doing lately and it’s accompanied by some great pictures.  If you can’t run out and buy a copy, check out the story at http://kdhnews.com/news/story.aspx?c=10 and then go to http://kdhnews.com/multimedia and find the slideshow for Salado Winery Co. to see more pictures.

It happens that our friend Scott Simon owner of the Texas Cheese House is on page B1 of today’s paper as well.  He was the Adelea’s Farmers’ Market Saturday selling cheese.  You don’t have to wait until next Saturday to buy his cheese though, we’ve got it 7 days a week!

Enjoy your Labor Day Weekend!  If you get thirsty, we’re open Sunday 12-6 & Monday 12-6.

Harvest starts SAT August 21 at 7 am

harvest time

We’ll be harvesting sangiovese and merlot on Saturday, August 21, 2010 at 7 am – 11 am.  We will continue on Sunday 7-11 if there are too many grapes for Saturday.

If you have favorite prunners, bring them, otherwise we have extras for you. 

Please bring your favorite hat, sunscreen, bug spray, and sturdy shoes. Come for the fun and camaraderie!  Kids welcome. 

Beware of the wasps, fireants, mosquitos, and be prepared for the heat.

Thanks for your continued interest in Salado Winery Company!

Prospective Grapegrower Classes

 PROSPECTIVE WINEGROWER WORKSHOP FROM AgriLIFE EXTENSION

The Prospective Winegrower Workshop is a one-day educational program designed to provide an overview of the unique requirements and risks associated with the establishment and operation of a commercial vineyard in Texas.  These workshops are offered through the Texas AgriLife Extension Service.

FEE: $125, lunch is provided ($200 per couple)

 REGISTER ONLINE: http://agrilifevents.tamu.edu

 The Prospective Winegrower Workshop serves as a prerequisite for application to the Texas Viticulture Certificate Program, offered by Texas Tech University and Texas AgrilLife Extension.

 2010 CALENDAR:

June 10th – Childress, TX – instructor: Dusty Timmons

July 19th – Stephenville, TX – instructor: Fran Pontasch

August 6th –  Houston, TX – instructor: Fritz Westover

October 12th – Pittsburg, TX – instructor: Fran Pontasch

November 18th – Fredericksburg, TX – instructor: Penny Adams

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6th Annual Vineyard Blessing

Please Join Us for the Vineyard Blessing
You Are Invited

6th Annual Vineyard Blessing
Sunday, May 16, 2-4 pm, 21724 Hill Road, I-35 Exit 279, Salado

Come help us bless our vineyard so we will have a good harvest this year!  Witness the ceremony at 2:30 pm then enjoy the reception & food.
 This event is not to be missed!

Friends & family are welcome.  Children can enjoy being outdoors.  Pets on leashes are also invited. 

Casual Attire.  Everything is on the grass, so we encourage you to wear sandals or sneakers, sun block, and perhaps bug spray.  This event will be held rain or shine. 

We’ve got a large tent to house the free food and cash wine bar.  Following the blessing, the cake will be cut and served.

Grow Grapes & Sell them to Salado Winery

Have you been thinking about growing grapes?  Want to sell your grapes to Salado Winery Company?  Then it’s time to attend a grape grower workshop!  Check out this extensive list:

February 18-20 – Texas Wine & Grape Grower Association – Annual Conference

Where:  Dallas area.

Registration & information:  http://www.txwines.org

February 24 – Advanced Pruning Workshop (High Plains)

Where: Reddy Vineyards, 2127 Tahoka Road (US HWY 380), Brownfield, Texas 79316

Time: 10:00 a.m. to Noon

Fee:  None

Registration: email [email protected]

February 26 – Advanced Pruning Workshop (Gulf Coast)

Where: Alta Mira Vineyards, Anderson, TX

Time: 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Fee: None

Registration: email [email protected]

March 2 – 2010 Texas Pierce’s Disease Symposium

Where:  Flat Creek Estate, 24912 Singleton Bend East, Marble Falls, TX

Time: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Fee: $40 or $50 on site

Registration & information:  http://agrilifevents.tamu.edu

March 8 – Prospective Wine Grower Workshop

Where: AgriLife Extension Office, 3033 Bear Creek Drive, Houston, TX 77084

Time:  8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Fee:  $125 or $200 per couple

Registration & information:  http://agrilifevents.tamu.edu

March 9 – Vineyard Design & Development Workshop

Where:  Grohmann Farms, 1101 Sedan Road, Weimar, TX 78962

Time: 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Fee: $50

Registration & information:  http://agrilifevents.tamu.edu

March 12 – Grape Disease & Pest Management Workshop

Where: AgriLife Extension Office, 3033 Bear Creek Drive, Houston, TX 77084

Time:  3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Fee:  None

Registration: email [email protected]

Other dates to save (more to come later):

April 30 – Newsom Grape Field Day, High Plains May 14 – Davies Grape Field Day, North Texas June 01 – Hill Country Grape Field Day, Hill Country

Vineyard Harvest in Killeen Daily Herald

harvest time

harvest time

Go to Killeen Daily Herald, then to “Multimedia“, from there, choose “slideshows” then choose “grapes” or if that isn’t a choice, then look in the “archives” and it’s filed under September 2009, “grapes“. 

There is a multimedia presentation by Steven Doll.  He made the recordings and pictures on Saturday, August 22nd.  If your speakers are on, you’ll hear me and Tyler discussing the vineyard.  It’s a very pleasant 2 minute escape from the real world, so enjoy!

If you would like to order any of the pictures, go to https://www.kdhnews.com/forms/ordering/photo.aspx