Wine Vineyards & Grape Growing

MAIN Home Life Entertaining Wine Vineyards

The rows of neatly placed green grape vines may seem beautiful and romantic from the other side of the fence, but ask any grape grower and you'll find that working a vineyard is demanding physically, financially and emotionally.

Like all farmers, the people who raise crops of fruit to turn into wine are subject to weather, market fluctuations and microscopic critters that would love to eat the fruits of their labor... and the plants the fruit grows on.

Whether the vineyard is in California, Bordeaux or Australia, the concerns are the same. Through all of the hardships, vintners seem never to lose the love of the plant and the wine it produces. Bringing in a good harvest is like watching a child graduate: a mix of pride, thankfulness and relief. These sites are from and for people who live this life to share news, ideas, problems and their solutions...

Blue Door Vineyard - Backyard grape growing is getting popular that some areas are beginning to look like Champagne with small vinyards in the most unlikely places. If you'd like to try your skill on a small backyard or garden plot, this site will provide most of the help you need to get started.

Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers - This site is geared to wine growers in Washington State, but their information can give you an idea of what is involved with owning a vineyard. Their brochure of General Information for Starting a Winery or Vineyard in Washington State has some very good advice and resources for getting into the business.

Wine Business Online - Online industry magazine for professionals with a US focus. Articles, news, sales of bulk grapes, barrels and other supplies and jobs listed.

US Congressional Wine Caucus - This site covers the actions of the US Congress in relation to the US wine industry plus a very good list of links to both U.S. and international growers associations. The individual state sites are very good sources of general technical as well as region specific information.

The Australian Wine Research Institute - This group may have been founded to give the Aussies a competitive edge, but they are willing to share some of what they've learned with outsiders. The list of agrochemicals is helpful as is the discussion of powdery mildew, downy mildew and Botrytis (bunch rot) under fungicide resistance management strategies.

Wine Business - Grape Growing - This business-oriented site carries the latest headlines and the stories to match. Pricing, legislation, growing conditions and crop predictions are just some of the areas covered.

Wine Views.com - Eye candy galore - from a professional photographer with a love of the grape - including stunning shots of vineyards & wineries, with related Web cam.