My husband and I just purchased a piece of property where our dream is to eventually have a \u201cworking\u201d farm with pigs, goats, bees, and vegetables. But, we have one slope that is practically unusable. Wanting to utilize all the space that we have, my husband suggested grapes. I\u2019ve always heard, if nothing will grow in a particular area, plant grapes. So, we thought, this will be perfect!<\/p>\n
Still there are so many other factors that we have to take into consideration for our \u201cvineyard.\u201d There has to be a temperate climate, enough sunshine, the right soil, and good drainage.<\/p>\n
The perfect growing conditions would consist of a cool, wet winter with no frost or rain in the beginning of spring. During the summer, hope for temperate days and cool nights with little rain. Then, right before harvest, warm, dry days. High humidity can promote vine disease. During the summer, I hope for great rain showers and bright, warm sunshine to saturate my tomatoes and cucumbers, but too much rain will invite mold and mildew into the vineyard, and throw off the sugar and acid balance. For instance, if it rains too much, the acid will be high and the sugars will be low, producing a not-so-favorable wine.<\/p>\n
It can also help immensely to be by a body of water. \u201cThe old farmer\u2019s saying that \u2018grapes like to see water\u2019 is a recognition that bodies of water help level out temperature highs and lows for the delicate grapes. But one old-timer explained that it was more that \u2018when the grapes are planted so they see water to the south, the sunlight bounces off the water and up under the leaves, and that helps ripen them, dries them, and keeps the mold away.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Vinifera grapes prefer soil with gravel, limestone, volcanic ash, rock, sand, or slate. The most infertile soil covered with rocks is the perfect place to plant. The grapevines need good drainage. If they have the opportunity to sit in water they will be susceptible to disease and rot. You do not want to plant vines in heavy clay and silt because the drainage is so poor.<\/p>\n
Still, the most important decision you will make is choosing the grape that you like, that will ripen well in your area. Chardonnay, Viognier, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot tend to grow well in Western North Carolina. The American Wine Society has a lot of information about successful viniculture; so too does the local organization French Broad Vignerons. The North Carolina Department of Agriculture can also offer great support.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe sun, with all those planets revolving around it and dependent on it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as if it had nothing else in the universe to do,\u201d wrote Galileo.<\/p>\n