Welcome to the Virginia Tech’s New Grape Grower Checklist. This compilation of information and links for new grape growers was created to address inquiries for commercial grape growing and vineyard establishment information in Virginia. The Commonwealth’s wine industry produces more than 400,000 cases of wine and the industry continues to expand with more than 200 licensed  wineries, and approx...

The most important principles are: Know the symptoms on the vine of water stress Know the physiological stages when a lack of water will affect the size and quality of the crop Know the depth and size of the root system Know the soil in order to know what the storage capacity of the soil is for water Know how much water to apply Read more about grape watering…

Vineyards are a long-term investment. Choosing an appropriate site for your vineyard is the single most important factor determining its economic success or failure. Success depends on choosing a site with appropriate climate, topography and soil characteristics. New York’s variable climate, topography and soils limit where grapes can be grown, and what varieties are suitable for which sites. A...