Author: Pete Anderson
The decision to develop and plans how to develop a vineyard should be based on the research of several factors (market, climate, water, codes, etc.) and take place at least one year prior to planting. Commercial enterprise or backyard vineyard operations will determine the scope of the project, but, the production of a quality grape (wine or table) should be the prime objective in either operation.
Available financial resources will determine the size and timeline of the development. The commercial enterprise will anticipate a profit return on it’s investment either from the sale of the product or from the increased evaluation of the property where the vineyard is developed. The backyard vineyard grower will derive a more immediate reward from the aesthetic value it adds to the property. In both cases, it will be at least three years before a quality berry would be harvested and any monetary or gustatory gain can be realized.
Market research should be the primary step for the commercial enterprise. Study of market trends published by groups like Allied Grape Growers and publications such as Wine Business Monthly will help decide what the target market will be: table grapes, wine grapes and/or wine. To be a grape grower or a wine grower (one who grows grapes and makes wine) ? A ton of wine grapes versus a bottle of wine: a ton of grapes can sell for $1500 or it can produce 160 gallons of wine (2 ½ barrels = 60 cases = 720 bottles) which sold for $10 per bottle returns $7200. If you have travelled the Lodi area of California you will have noticed more and more winery/tasting room signs appearing on property that was only vineyard space a short time ago. However, if you are able to produce a unique match of grape varietal and vineyard site such as Napa – Cabernet Sauvignon which sells for $5000 per ton it will make grape growing a profitable endeavor.
Vineyard site selection is one of the factors to be researched in the planning stage of developing a vineyard. It involves the evaluation and assessment of soil, pathogens, macroclimate, water supply and quality, pests and diseases, local and regional codes, etc. It also includes a determination if seasonal labor force is available to perform vineyard work. Acquisition of the site could be the most expensive development cost. Or, it could be the conversion of an existing citrus or avocado grove which is a recent trend in San Diego County. In either case, the vine selection will be the most critical decision made in the development of a new vineyard. From a market viewpoint, one should find a grape varietal that is not widely grown in the local area, but has an established market or the potential to be. For the backyard vineyard, the grape varietal should meet the vineyard site characteristics and not the developer’s wine preference. San Diego County has many diverse macroclimate and topographical sites; this will make the vineyard development research more complicated, but, it also offers the possibility of discovering new and unique growing areas – it is a matter of matching the right grape varietal to the site.
Grape vines will grow most everywhere in the temperate zone of the world; both north and south of the Equator. Whether they produce a quality berry depends on how much research and experimentation the grower wants to expend.
To learn more about "Planning a Vineyard" with Pete Anderson, be sure to attend our Free Seminar July 25th: For more information and RSVP email, click here.