All Things Chap, Some Things Daddy
You built your backyard vineyard. You planted some vines. You trained them up the trellis for a year or two, harvested some grapes, and finally had the chance to crush them with family and friends on harvest day. You now Continue reading The Backyard Vineyard – Managing the Must
Harvest. It’s one of those words which, metaphorically, has come to symbolize so many other aspects of our lives. It represents the culmination of months of work and collaboration, is often a celebration between humans and nature, and is generally Continue reading The Backyard Vineyard – Harvest
One of the greatest aspects of backyard vineyard winemaking is your connection to – and awareness of – the cycle of the seasons. After the excitement of spring bud break, the hard work of summer maintenance, and the celebratory rush Continue reading The Backyard Vineyard – Winter Pruning
Of all your decisions for a backyard vineyard, one of the most important is choosing your harvest date. No matter how well you pruned the year prior, how good your soil may be, or how well you trained your vines Continue reading The Backyard Vineyard – Determining Ripeness
We covered a lot in the Year One Vineyard Management (Part One) post. The main takeaway is this: above all else, year one in the backyard vineyard is about preparing the vines for long, healthy, and productive lives. This means Continue reading The Backyard Vineyard – Year One Vineyard Management (Part Two)
Your rows are tilled. Your stakes and end-posts are emplaced. Ideally, it is on/around mid-October (though in our case, it was early spring). You are now ready to order your vines, plant them, and hang the wire before diving into Continue reading The Backyard Vineyard – Planting Your Vines
You selected your backyard vineyard site. You mapped out and measured your layout. You prepped your soil. And you finally selected a training system and trellis. Now is when the fun really begins. Building the trellis for a backyard vineyard Continue reading The Backyard Vineyard – How to Build a Trellis
Let’s face it. There are a lot of people out there who know way more than The ChapDaddy about choosing a trellis from the dozen or so options available. Geneva Double Curtain? Sounds like something from IKEA, but sure, why Continue reading The Backyard Vineyard: Choosing a Trellis
Grape vines are not tomatoes. Grape vines prefer a healthy struggle for survival, at least when it comes to the soil they inhabit. In fact, the best grapes come from vines that actually have to work for a living, not Continue reading The Backyard Vineyard – Soil Preparation
Your backyard vineyard site selection is complete. You’ve ordered some grapes. Ideally it is still late summer/fall before the winter arrives. What should you do now? Your priorities before planting – ideally the summer/fall before your anticipated spring planting – Continue reading The Backyard Vineyard – Layout