Cedar Rapids Brewing Society

Grapes, but more importantly growing grape vines and getting them started Im staking out an area in the side hill of my yard for growing vines. I got old steel pipe (were clothes line posts) for the beginnings of a trellis sho they will be heavy duty and last for years.
Wanting purple/ black grapes(Lacrosse i think? )

Where to get vines from?

Had a customer with existing mature vines tell me that it was as simple as clipping off new Growth and sticking them in the ground in spring and viola! New plant. Sounds to good to be true or is it? Would this be a recipe for failure starting off that way versus just buying a(maturish) root ball?

Much to learn with this ik payoff will be a few years away. I plan to set posts next spring as soon as I can get through the frost with an auger. Plan to have two separate runs with 3-4 vines each. Good place to start and I'll have room to expand with time.

Wife and family love- my wine i did last year so i have ample support for the time and effort involved.

I have not propagate grapes yet.

This source looks to be about right from what I remember.

https://articles.extension.org/pages/45 ... ropagation

Most of the cold-weather grapes were developed by a Professor in Minnesota - can't remember the university or his name.

BUT, I do know that he left his entire collection to the Seed Savers Exchange in Decorah.

You might inquire if they are propagating any of those varieties beyond their collection. OR, if they could recommend a source for some of the varieties that are used commercially.

You can even reach out to the local wineries. The wine industry is similar to the beer industry, at least on a local basis....it is very much a community - where most info and advice is shared freely.

But invest sometime in understanding what type of wines you like, and if the grapes to make that wine, can be grown locally. And then focus on those varieties.....you will put a lot of time and effort (and $$$) into this project, for which you may not experience the results for 2-3 years. So doing your HW will increase your chances of success by quite a bit.

And above all....have fun doing it.

You will want to become friends with these folks.

https://www.extension.iastate.edu/viticulture/

This has a downloadable PDF file describing 74 varieties of cold hardy grapes.

https://www.extension.iastate.edu/vitic ... -cultivars

Many of these varieties were developed by Elmer Swenson working in Wisconsin on his own. Currently Cornell in NY and University of MN are producing the new and exciting cold hard varieties.

Many of the new varieties are covered by plant patents, so you have to pay a fee (like 50 cents per plant) if you take cuttings and plant them your self. The vineyard owner should know which of varieties are covered.

Here is a supplier of ready-to-plant vines.

https://www.nevinesupply.com/

A lot of great info, thanks pat

wyzzyrdd wrote: Many of these varieties were developed by Elmer Swenson working in Wisconsin on his own. Currently Cornell in NY and University of MN are producing the new and exciting cold hard varieties.

Elmer Swenson, that's the guy. He gave all or a good portion of his collection to Seed Saver's Exchange for safe keeping.

You want a South facing slope. West facing is second best. East facing can be problematic. North facing is no good.

wyzzyrdd wrote:You want a South facing slope. West facing is second best. East facing can be problematic. North facing is no good.

It's south and west facing, full sun and sloped on hilltop, i read that Good airflow and drainage is good thing for grapes but that could be just opinion.

I'll be making mostly sweet or semi sweet wines as it is my favorite, my wife's aunt has lovely grapes that I've used in the past, they are Concords i believe.

It'll take the vines probably 3 years to reach maturity/ full volume. I got nothing but time. Going to also transplant some of my dad's black raspberries as well. Not going to grow garden veggies anymore so might as well do something useful with the space.

Black Raspberries are the best!

Little black nuggets of flavor...but lots of seed, and you need to pick a ton to get a pound.

But in my opinion, it is worth the effort.

Lucas who runs the program at the Kirkwood winery would be a good resource as well. He has an entire vineyard planted with hearty Midwest grapes, Lacrosse, petit pearl, edelweiss...plus he is a trip to talk to. Would probably talk your ear off for a couple hours and open a bunch of bottles to try if you went to see him. He does a pretty nice job with sweet and semi-sweets using local varietals. And yes, good drainage and airflow are essential for grapevines.


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MikeB wrote:Lucas who runs the program at the Kirkwood winery would be a good resource as well. He has an entire vineyard planted with hearty Midwest grapes, Lacrosse, petit pearl, edelweiss...plus he is a trip to talk to. Would probably talk your ear off for a couple hours and open a bunch of bottles to try if you went to see him. He does a pretty nice job with sweet and semi-sweets using local varietals. And yes, good drainage and airflow are essential for grapevines.
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I took the vineyard management program and winery management program at Kirkwood about 8 or 9 years ago. The winery management program was Lucas's first year there. He is a good resource.