Getting Started
 

I hope someone can help me get started. We have moved into a house
with a conservatory along the side - a grape vine, variety unknown is
situated againt a fence in shade. It grows up the fence and crosses
above the pathway between conservatory and fence anbd grows along the
length of the conservatory, turns the corner to continue growing along
the end of the conservatory towards the house wall. It is literally
dripping with grapes of about 1cm diameter, 80% of which are now
turning red and birds are starting to hop, into the growth and pick
out their choice. I thought that wine grapes were supposed to be ready
for picking in October onwards. The grapes are small but taste quite
sweet. Does this mean I have a desert grape vine producing too many
eating grapes or has my wine vine got ahead of itself? Help please.

Wine grapes tend to be sweeter and less acid than eating grapes and are
generally small. I don't think anyone could come close to guessing what
kind of grapes you have from the description. In fact, it is amazing how
frequently comercial vineyards are not sure what kind of grapes they have.
You might take some to your local ag. agent and he might be able to give you
a general idea. If I were you, I would just try to make wine from them and
call it Anonymous wine.

Ray

"Peter Corfield" > wrote in message
om...
>I hope someone can help me get started. We have moved into a house
> with a conservatory along the side - a grape vine, variety unknown is
> situated againt a fence in shade. It grows up the fence and crosses
> above the pathway between conservatory and fence anbd grows along the
> length of the conservatory, turns the corner to continue growing along
> the end of the conservatory towards the house wall. It is literally
> dripping with grapes of about 1cm diameter, 80% of which are now
> turning red and birds are starting to hop, into the growth and pick
> out their choice. I thought that wine grapes were supposed to be ready
> for picking in October onwards. The grapes are small but taste quite
> sweet. Does this mean I have a desert grape vine producing too many
> eating grapes or has my wine vine got ahead of itself? Help please.

Wine grapes tend to be sweeter and less acid than eating grapes and are
generally small. I don't think anyone could come close to guessing what
kind of grapes you have from the description. In fact, it is amazing how
frequently comercial vineyards are not sure what kind of grapes they have.
You might take some to your local ag. agent and he might be able to give you
a general idea. If I were you, I would just try to make wine from them and
call it Anonymous wine.

Ray

"Peter Corfield" > wrote in message
om...
>I hope someone can help me get started. We have moved into a house
> with a conservatory along the side - a grape vine, variety unknown is
> situated againt a fence in shade. It grows up the fence and crosses
> above the pathway between conservatory and fence anbd grows along the
> length of the conservatory, turns the corner to continue growing along
> the end of the conservatory towards the house wall. It is literally
> dripping with grapes of about 1cm diameter, 80% of which are now
> turning red and birds are starting to hop, into the growth and pick
> out their choice. I thought that wine grapes were supposed to be ready
> for picking in October onwards. The grapes are small but taste quite
> sweet. Does this mean I have a desert grape vine producing too many
> eating grapes or has my wine vine got ahead of itself? Help please.

Wine grapes tend to be sweeter and less acid than eating grapes and are
generally small. I don't think anyone could come close to guessing what
kind of grapes you have from the description. In fact, it is amazing how
frequently comercial vineyards are not sure what kind of grapes they have.
You might take some to your local ag. agent and he might be able to give you
a general idea. If I were you, I would just try to make wine from them and
call it Anonymous wine.

Ray

"Peter Corfield" > wrote in message
om...
>I hope someone can help me get started. We have moved into a house
> with a conservatory along the side - a grape vine, variety unknown is
> situated againt a fence in shade. It grows up the fence and crosses
> above the pathway between conservatory and fence anbd grows along the
> length of the conservatory, turns the corner to continue growing along
> the end of the conservatory towards the house wall. It is literally
> dripping with grapes of about 1cm diameter, 80% of which are now
> turning red and birds are starting to hop, into the growth and pick
> out their choice. I thought that wine grapes were supposed to be ready
> for picking in October onwards. The grapes are small but taste quite
> sweet. Does this mean I have a desert grape vine producing too many
> eating grapes or has my wine vine got ahead of itself? Help please.