What do you need to farm grapes?

What do you need to farm grapes?

Basically, you need a large, open, sunny space with good soil. Grapes need about 50 to 100 square feet per vine if growing vertically on a trellis or arbor and about 8 feet between rows if planting horizontally in rows, and seven to eight hours of direct sun each day.

How profitable is grape farming?

Grape growing can be profitable if production is consistent and price and demand remain high. Variable costs (not including land and equipment expense) are about $8,000 over a three-year period to bring an acre of grapes into production. Annual returns depend on yield and price.

Is there money in growing grapes?

Growing wine grapes is a business—a good business. Despite the uncertainties of the marketplace, unpredictability of the weather and the vagaries of farming, growing wine grapes can produce a good income year after year if the vineyard is well run and well marketed. It costs $5,000 and up per acre to farm every year.

How many acres do you need for a small vineyard?

If you hope to establish a profitable business, the minimum size you need is 5 acres. And that’s if you’re selling your wine direct to the consumer. If you aim to sell to the wholesale market, you’ll need at least 10 acres to make it profitable, but ideally more to achieve economies of scale.

How expensive is a vineyard?

Since then, the vineyard prices have only gone up, especially in regions like Napa Valley where land is scarce. Vineyards in Northern California can cost $11,000 to $30,000 per acre, but in the next 30 years, the price tag is predicted to reach $1 million per acre.

Can you buy grapes from a vineyard?

From Vineyard to Market. Grapes make their way to local purveyors in several ways, depending on the source. Most grapes intended for home winemakers will be packaged in 36-lb. Some dealers can provide grapes in ¼ and ½ ton bins, usually intended for serious hobbyists and commercial wineries.

When should I buy grapes?

In the U.S., peak season for grapes is August through October. One cup of grapes contains 62 calories, vitamin K, manganese, potassium and vitamin C. Grapes are packed with a variety of antioxidants.

When should you plant a vineyard?

Planting usually occurs in late spring after the threat of frost has passed. I suggest using dormant grapevines and not “green-growing” vines. My rates of success with dormant vines have proven significantly higher than using green-growing vines.