PLANNING FOR SUCCESS

10 Steps To Growing Grapes Successfully

1. Determine if there is a market for your grapes. Talk with wineries you are planning to sell to and find out what types of grapes they are interested in buying. It's a good idea to obtain a contract or solid commitment from one or more wineries before you plant.

2. Know what you're doing. The most successful Texas growers to date were already farming before they began growing grapes. Lacking this background, if you have an eye for detail and can follow set procedures, you are still a good candidate, but you must either understand horticultural production or be committed to learn through research and training.

3. Do research. Talk to local growers and your county Extension agent to find out which grape varieties grow best in your area and how to grow them. Make sure these are the varieties that wineries would be interested in buying. You can get valuable technical information by contacting experienced viticulturists at the Texas Cooperative Extension in Lubbock at (806) 746-6101 and in Fredericksburg at (830)997-3452. Grayson County College in Denison also offers two-year viticulture and enology degree pro-grams as well as continuing education courses. The college can be reached at (903) 465-6030.

4. If a winery is included in your plans for a vineyard, do extensive market research to determine the wines you will make and the best location for your facility. This should include determining your customer base and the types of wine these customers would be interested in buying. Assess potential demand and sales projections.

5. Have enough capital to live comfortably for 3 to 5 years without any return from your vineyard and enough time to devote to your new enterprise. Part-time grape farming rarely succeeds, especially when a vineyard is larger than one acre.

6. Make sure your vineyard site has the right soil and an adequate water supply.

7. Start conservatively with smaller acreage, especially if you have limited knowledge of farming and farm machinery. This will give you the chance to learn about growing grapes without risking a huge investment. Include a 150-foot cleared buffer zone around vineyards planted with grapes susceptible to Pierce's disease in at-risk areas to create an unfavorable environment for the insects that spread the disease.

8. Get a mentor, a successful grower willing to share knowledge. Meet growers by networking through organizations such as the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association at (817) 424-0570 or by contacting resources such as the Texas Wine Marketing Research Institute at Texas Tech University at (806)742-3077. Attend educational events produced by organizations such as the Texas Cooperative Extension, and seek out information from books, trade magazines and other resources. There are also private consultants who can help you get started or assist with specific challenges.

9. Learn how to prune grape vines. Pruning can be challenging and complicated when you are trying to balance vine health and maximum production of quality fruit. Every vine must be pruned annually. Tying vines is also done by hand, even in large mechanized vineyards.

10. Develop the patience and mentality of a tree farmer. It takes long-term vision, persistent effort and continual learning to be a successful grape grower.

1 . Site selection - Selecting a site is probably the most important decision for a potential grape grower. In areas prone to Pierce's disease, this means taking into consideration the factors that heighten or mitigate the risk of the disease. You should also ensure that the site has the proper soil type and depth, water quantity and water quality conducive to grape growing, including the best chance of avoiding spring frost. In the South Plains, sites with a reduced risk of winter injury and hail are the most ideal.

2 . After purchasing a site - Set aside anywhere from one to two years for site preparation and ordering plants and other necessary materials. Getting the site ready includes land preparation, irrigation installation and fencing. The time required for land preparation, such as clearing brush and ripping the soil, varies according to the site's location and the improvements needed, but generally averages about one year.

3 . First year - Erect trellises before planting to keep grape vines from trailing along the ground, which increases the risk of fungal disease. Growers in areas with lower fungal disease risk, such as the South Plains, may be able to postpone trellises until the second year. Plant vines from late February through April, depending on location. A good rule of thumb is to plant just before an area's last freeze. The plants won't come out until after the freeze date, eliminating the threat of damage. If the vineyard has been prestaked, plant each vine as close to the stake as possible for support and protection. The main objective is to develop a strong, healthy root system. Thorough weed control is essential to establishment.

In some growing areas that have a warm climate and a longer growing season, it may be possible with good vineyard management to have a light crop in the second year. This would require vine training in the first year and would move the time line ahead one year.

4 . Second year - Vine training begins. If you did not erect trellises last year, do so now. Each vine must be cut and tied at least four times in the spring and early summer. Buds must be removed from undesirable locations, primarily from along the lower portion of the developing trunk. Maintain weed control.

5 . Third year - Repeat tying, pruning and removing buds from the lower trunk several times. The vines should be established by now and you may have a light crop of grapes.

6 . Fourth year - Vines should produce a mature yield of 35 percent to 50 percent of potential.

7 . Fifth year - Yields will vary from 65 percent to a full crop.

Costs vs. Returns
Wine grapes may net about $1,800 per acre for established vineyards depending on volume, variety, management skills and production region. Keep in mind that net returns may vary from year to year. Leading Texas vineyards generate average gross revenues of more than $4,500 per acre per year. In general, the economic potential of grape production in West Texas is superior to the rest of the state because of lower land costs, less land preparation, lower chemical inputs and consistently higher yields of certain grape varieties.

Can growers earn more from popular grapes such as Cabernet Sauvigon, Chardonnay and Merlot? The answer is "yes and no." As a general rule, growing premium grapes often means less volume but higher market prices. For example, Cabernet producing 5 tons per acre might sell for $1,000 a ton while Chenin Blanc yielding 10 tons per acre might bring $400-$ 700 per ton.

The following examples of per-acre costs and yields are approximate and may vary according to variety and conditions in any given year. Figures are based on mature vineyards. The average yield for the state in 1999 was 2.2 tons per acre. Yields overall may range from 0 to 12 tons per acre.

Estimated Yearly Operating Costs (not including labor management)
Southeast Texas $3,500 per acre
South Plains $1,200 per acre
North Texas $2,500 per acre
Hill Country $3,000 per acre
Far West Texas $1,500 to slightly less than $2,000 per acre

Estimated Yields ( assuming zero loss to weather)
Chenin Blanc 6-8 tons per acre
Ruby Cabernet 6-8 tons per acre
Muscat Canelli 4-8 tons per acre
Zinfandel 3-7 tons per acre
Sauvignon Blanc 3-5 tons per acre
Riesling 4-6 tons per acre
Sangiovese 6-8 tons per acre
Merlot 3-6 tons per acre
Cabernet Sauvignon 2-5 tons per acre
Chardonnay 1-5 tons per acre

Texas grapes were sold at the following averages per ton in 1998, according to the Texas Wine Marketing Institute (for updated pricing, contact the Institute at (806) 742-3077):

Cabernet Sauvignon $1,055
Cabernet Franc $ 825
Chardonnay $1,020
Black Spanish/ Lenoir $ 797
Sangiovese $1,000
Zinfandel $ 775
Syrah/ Shiraz $1,000
Riesling $ 755
Merlot $ 980
Chenin Blanc $ 616
Sauvignon Blanc $ 860

Questions and Comments