Hi,

I live outside Austin, TX. This winter/spring I want to plant
grapevines to make red dry table wine. I'd like to plant enough vines
so that I can make 5 or 6 gallons of wine per year. I've been reading
"From Vines to Wines" by Cox. I selected a nice location on my backyard
near the top of a slope. I dug a trench 2.5' wide, 2' deep and 27'
long. My soil is what's called a sandy loam: mostly sand, with some
silt and clay, and also lots of rocks. Soon I will install a two-wire
trellis, which seems to be a pretty versatile support system.

The reason for this post is that I'd like some recommendations on what
grapes to plant. I guess the three big considerations a 1) it has to
make good red dry wine, 2) it has to be suited for this weather, and 3)
it would be nice if it were tolerant to Pierce's disease.

Any recommendations? Does anybody have experience with Cynthiana (also
called Norton)? It is cited as one of the varieties that are tolerant
to Pierce's disease, but I dunno if it can make good wine.

Thanks in advance.

Texas A&M University has agricultural extension offices in many Texas
counties,
and that's usually the first place to start.

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/

Whites grown in the high plains and trans-pecos regions (Lubbock, Pecos,
etc.) are
starting to produce a significant number of award winners. Alas the reds not
so.

Here's a link to the "Texas wine grape guide" produced by the Texas
department
of Agricultu

http://www.agr.state.tx.us/wine/docs/grapeguide.pdf



-- Tom






"Igor" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> Hi,
>
> I live outside Austin, TX. This winter/spring I want to plant
> grapevines to make red dry table wine. I'd like to plant enough vines
> so that I can make 5 or 6 gallons of wine per year. I've been reading
> "From Vines to Wines" by Cox. I selected a nice location on my backyard
> near the top of a slope. I dug a trench 2.5' wide, 2' deep and 27'
> long. My soil is what's called a sandy loam: mostly sand, with some
> silt and clay, and also lots of rocks. Soon I will install a two-wire
> trellis, which seems to be a pretty versatile support system.
>
> The reason for this post is that I'd like some recommendations on what
> grapes to plant. I guess the three big considerations a 1) it has to
> make good red dry wine, 2) it has to be suited for this weather, and 3)
> it would be nice if it were tolerant to Pierce's disease.
>
> Any recommendations? Does anybody have experience with Cynthiana (also
> called Norton)? It is cited as one of the varieties that are tolerant
> to Pierce's disease, but I dunno if it can make good wine.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>

It is a good idea to talk to your neighbors see what their experience has
been with different varieties.
Also how much experience and time do you have to manage the grapes? Some
varieties i.e. viniferas need pretty intense management. Some people think
the wine is made in the vineyard.
Are you looking to sell the grapes to a specific market if so what are they
looking for?

Joe

"Igor" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> Hi,
>
> I live outside Austin, TX. This winter/spring I want to plant
> grapevines to make red dry table wine. I'd like to plant enough vines
> so that I can make 5 or 6 gallons of wine per year. I've been reading
> "From Vines to Wines" by Cox. I selected a nice location on my backyard
> near the top of a slope. I dug a trench 2.5' wide, 2' deep and 27'
> long. My soil is what's called a sandy loam: mostly sand, with some
> silt and clay, and also lots of rocks. Soon I will install a two-wire
> trellis, which seems to be a pretty versatile support system.
>
> The reason for this post is that I'd like some recommendations on what
> grapes to plant. I guess the three big considerations a 1) it has to
> make good red dry wine, 2) it has to be suited for this weather, and 3)
> it would be nice if it were tolerant to Pierce's disease.
>
> Any recommendations? Does anybody have experience with Cynthiana (also
> called Norton)? It is cited as one of the varieties that are tolerant
> to Pierce's disease, but I dunno if it can make good wine.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>

The vineyards around here either have varieties for sweet wines, or
cabernet, merlot, etc. because that's what the consumer wants. From
what I read, this weather is definitely too hot for cabernet, but the
commercial vineyards do it anyway. I'm not constrained by market
demands, so I can plant whatever I want. I'm not gonna sell the grapes.
I will use them to make wine for my own consumption.

Tom's recommendations are good. Also contact the San Antonio Regional Wine
Guild. You may want to join. they are the primary wine maker club of
Texas. They can put you in contact with serious small vineyards and
armatures in your area.

Ray

"Tom" > wrote in message
news:6Bdaf.1336$zU2.926@trnddc07...
> Texas A&M University has agricultural extension offices in many Texas
> counties,
> and that's usually the first place to start.
>
> http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/
>
> Whites grown in the high plains and trans-pecos regions (Lubbock, Pecos,
> etc.) are
> starting to produce a significant number of award winners. Alas the reds
> not so.
>
> Here's a link to the "Texas wine grape guide" produced by the Texas
> department
> of Agricultu
>
> http://www.agr.state.tx.us/wine/docs/grapeguide.pdf
>
>
>
> -- Tom
>
>
>
>
>
>
> "Igor" > wrote in message
> ups.com...
>> Hi,
>>
>> I live outside Austin, TX. This winter/spring I want to plant
>> grapevines to make red dry table wine. I'd like to plant enough vines
>> so that I can make 5 or 6 gallons of wine per year. I've been reading
>> "From Vines to Wines" by Cox. I selected a nice location on my backyard
>> near the top of a slope. I dug a trench 2.5' wide, 2' deep and 27'
>> long. My soil is what's called a sandy loam: mostly sand, with some
>> silt and clay, and also lots of rocks. Soon I will install a two-wire
>> trellis, which seems to be a pretty versatile support system.
>>
>> The reason for this post is that I'd like some recommendations on what
>> grapes to plant. I guess the three big considerations a 1) it has to
>> make good red dry wine, 2) it has to be suited for this weather, and 3)
>> it would be nice if it were tolerant to Pierce's disease.
>>
>> Any recommendations? Does anybody have experience with Cynthiana (also
>> called Norton)? It is cited as one of the varieties that are tolerant
>> to Pierce's disease, but I dunno if it can make good wine.
>>
>> Thanks in advance.
>>
>
>

"San Antonio Regional Wine Guild". Thanks for that suggestion, Ray. I
will get in touch with them. By the way, what is an armature?

Igor wrote"Does anybody have experience with Cynthiana (also called Norton)?
It is cited as one of the varieties that are tolerant to Pierce's disease,
but I dunno if it can make good wine."

Igor - Lots of Norton/Cynthiana is grown here in the Kansas/Missouri area.
Makes great wine. If you can find it locally or if you can ship wine
between states where you live buy a bottle of Stone Hill Norton. It's
excellent wine. However, Norton is pretty tricky to make wine from. It's
a high pH/high acid wine and you must let the grapes hang a long time to get
the acid levels down. Then deal with pH. I've only tasted one or two well
made Nortons here in the Kansas City area.

You can buy Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot at the store. Why not consider
planting one of the viniferas that are happy with the hottest part of the
Mediterranean area...Sardinia, Greece/Crete, Sicily or southern Spain. One
of these varities might like the heat in Austin.

Bill Frazier
Olathe, Kansas USA

Thanks for the reply, Bill. You said "Why not consider
planting one of the viniferas that are happy with the hottest part of
the
Mediterranean area...Sardinia, Greece/Crete, Sicily or southern Spain."

Do you know which varieties do well in those places?

Igor - Here are two sites that may help. The Wine Info Site gives
information about different grape growing regions, their climate and grapes
that do well. The Winegrape Glossary gives information about different wine
grape varities. Both are interesting and helpful.

The wine info site;
http://www.twis.info/wineregions_1.php
The winegrape glossary;
http://www.stratsplace.com/hawkins/wgg.html

Consider Grenache and Carignan which can make fine red wines and do more
research. You can spend a lot of time reading the Winegrape Glossary for
grape variety info. Also, contact Vintage Nursery in California
(http://www.vintagenurseries.com/). They have a large selection of wine
grapes and were helpful picking some proper clones for my area here in
Kansas.

Bill Frazier
Olathe, Kansas USA

"Igor" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Thanks for the reply, Bill. You said "Why not consider
> planting one of the viniferas that are happy with the hottest part of
> the
> Mediterranean area...Sardinia, Greece/Crete, Sicily or southern Spain."
>
> Do you know which varieties do well in those places?
>

Ray Calvert wrote:

> This is Texas man, you should not that -- it is either a typo or an
> amateur
> armadillo! ;o)
>
> Ray

I thought it was perhaps an amateur who went around in circles.



>
> "Igor" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
>> "San Antonio Regional Wine Guild". Thanks for that suggestion, Ray. I
>> will get in touch with them. By the way, what is an armature?
>>

This is Texas man, you should not that -- it is either a typo or an amateur
armadillo! ;o)

Ray

"Igor" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> "San Antonio Regional Wine Guild". Thanks for that suggestion, Ray. I
> will get in touch with them. By the way, what is an armature?
>

I like your Carignan/Carignane suggestion.

I had one that was grown in Tunisia, and it was excellent...definitely
some sun there !