A growing number of the grape grower and home winemakers are searching for information on quality grape varieties to grow in the backyard. Choosing the right varieties is important and several can be found in trade literature, university publications, nursery sales catalogues and over the Internet.

Wine grape vines can grow from any grape of the Vitis Vinifera family but some varieties are better suited for winemaking than others in terms of their acid, sugar, flavour and aromatic components. Varietal wine came from red French hybrids (e.g., Chambourcin, Leon Millot, Foch, DeChaunac, Baco Noir) will have robust aromatic flavors and full-body expression of tannins. White French hybrids (e.g., Seyval, Vidal, Vignoles, Traminette) tend to have a fruitier taste than do reds. You may opt for a peach, apple, apricot or even banana flavors and have floral aroma as you swirl and sniff the wine. The tannin flavors usually found in red wines are due to phenolic compounds extracted from grape pips, skins and stalks during the crush and fermentation. They gives a strong, distinct taste in the mouth. Some may describe it as bitter or pungent and others may view it as a full-bodied character found in dry to semi-dry wines produced from French hybrids.

Europeans developed French hybrid grapes through very successful plant breeding programs. The intent was to improve insect and disease resistance in grapes, using American rootstock, without losing wine quality. This required very careful selection for taste, aroma and resistance genes.

Grape growing guide suggested Vinifera varieties are the best for wine grapes. Gardeners who would like to grow high quality wine grapes can rely on Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, or Pinot Gris vines to plant in their backyards. Resistance to diseases and insects is a determining factor to consider when planting out your first few hectares of vines. Advice - join a local support group and listen carefully to all the advice that you can get.

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So you decided to grow grapes then.

How do grapes grow is a good question.

But beware, this is where most of the grape grower make their first mistake.When it comes to growing grapes, choosing the perfect grape variety is one of the most important decisions any home grape grower needs to take. The correct variety will stand between being a successful grape grower or failure.

In the past, choosing a grape vine variety that suits your climate, soil and growing conditions, was much harder than today. On this current situation, there are more than 20 000 known grape varieties in the world, people living in climates, previously thought not suitable for growing grapes, can now plant varieties that was specially bred for to survive in harsh grape growing conditions.

Backyard grape growing is becoming more and more popular by the day, as people more and more strive to live healthier and look after our planet more carefully. Unfortunately, you cannot just plant any grape vine in your backyard. You will have to do some research on what varieties suits your climate, your soil and the availability of good quality water.

Another major concern for any home grape grower is a disease called Phylloxera. In the late 1800’s, a phylloxera epidemic (a sap-sucking insect that feeds on the roots of the grape vine) destroyed more than two thirds of all the vineyards in Europe. The breeding of Phylloxera resistant/tollerant rootsock, interferred or stopped this disease from killing all grape vines. Planting grafted varieties is the preferred method today, because the rootstock does not interfere with the development of the grapes.

When choosing the correct grape variety, it is best to visit vineyards in your area and see what varieties are successfully grown there. Most of the time, this is a surefire way of knowing that you have chosen the right variety.

Cold damage to grape vines is another grape growing problem that will influence the choice of grape varieties. If cold damage is a problem where you live, choose a variety with a short growing season, so the grape vines have enough time to harden off before winter comes.

A final word of advice; if nobody grow grapes in your area, it doesn’t mean grapes can’t be grown there. Probe first and choose wisely. There is nothing more satisfying than enjoying grapes, grown on your own grape vine and prepared by your hands.

There is a lot of growing grapes book that you can find in a bookstore.

Good luck!

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Contrary to popular speculation or belief, growing grapes in your backyard is not as difficult as one may presume. When someone mention of starting a grape garden and how do you grow grapes, one may immediately assume that without acres of free land at their disposal, it will be almost impossible to be successful. This is absolutely false!

As a matter of fact, the grape grower today who are content with their small vine garden in their backyard. The grapes they yield are so succulent and making wine and the little effort put into it has a high return.

First of all backyard grape growing does not require expensive fertilizers or manures. You can get some really good vines from ordinary soil. Another goodie is that you won’t have to invest a lot of time in your garden because the roots themselves will seek out what they need. The only thing you need to concern yourself with is where to put the vine itself.

The best time to plant your grapevines is during the fall. Do not let the vines fruit during the first season of planting. Instead, always remember to cut down your vines to about four buds. The reason for this is that those four buds will become the strongest points and will lead the rest of the vine up the wall where you planted them in. You want your grapevine to use all of its energy producing a strong wood for the next season because it is during the second season of growth that you get the best tasting grapes.

Wait! Never go planting some grapevines you bought from local nursery and then gets frustrated as to why you are getting poor results. Many of these vines come from other states and were cut from a healthy patch which will never have the strength to ripen once taken home. Learn the fundamental procedures grapevine planting by visiting my grape vine

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