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 want to know how to grow grapes?

It seems hard to find anyone who does not know what grapes are. They are grown all over the world, and are enjoyed by most people. These morsels of juicy deliciousness are berries in the botanical sense. They grow in bunches with at least 6 individual fruits. Some varieties produce bunches numbering an astonishing 300 grapes! There are to ways why we grow grapes, one is for eating and the second is for making wine. Table grapes are the ones for eating, and wine grape vines are for making wine. Centuries of cultivation and study has led to the development of a specialized branch of plant science just for grapes. This special science is called viticulture, and it deals with everything about grapes. Breeds and varieties, soil composition and sun exposure, basically everything that has to do with how to grow grapes, falls under viticulture. Before you ask how to grow grapes, you need to know exactly what you plan to do with the grapes. Is it for making wine or for eating? Both do follow the same step-by-step procedures for planting grapesplants grapes, but the specific requirements might change depending on what you plan to grow. A fertile soil with good drainage is what table grapes needs. This means that clay to loam or sand proportion must not be too high. It is not good to put too much clay as it makes the soil retain a lot of water, which will cause the grapevine’s roots to rot. The amount of sunlight that the plant will receive is crucial to the development of sugars in the fruits. Start with planning your plantation or plot of land. The plot should receive a enormous sunlight. It should be about six feet apart to allow for growth. Check the soil. Does the soil fertile enough? Is it draining well? If not, put more compost and loosen it before planting. When this are done, it is time to start building a trellis for the vine to cling on. It should not be high enough to make picking easier and fun. Make sure to choose wood that will not rot easily under the elements. Only now can we begin to plant grapes. Make a hole for the plants. The holes must be bigger than what you need to plant the vines. This is because you want the soil to be loose when you put it back over the roots. Tie the strongest tendril to your trellis with string, not wire which can cause damage to the vine. Water your plants unless the rain is enough to keep them healthy.

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