'Grape expectations' will be focus of May 4 workshop in Fredericksburg

April 2, 2012

By: Paul Schattenberg, 210-467-6575, paschattenberg@ag.tamu.edu

FREDERICKSBURG – The Texas AgriLife Extension Service will conduct a Prospective Wine-Grape Grower Workshop from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. on May 4 for those interested in commercial wine-grape production.

The program will be held at the AgriLife Extension office for Gillespie County, 95 Frederick Road in Fredericksburg. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.

A Prospective Wine-Grape Grower Workshop will be held May 4 at the Texas AgriLife Extension Service office for Gillespie County, located in Fredericksburg. (Texas AgriLife Extension Service photo)

“This workshop is very beneficial to those landowners considering planting a commercial vineyard or those thinking about expanding a smaller operation to a commercial scale,” said Penny Adams, AgriLife Extension viticulture adviser for the Texas Hill Country. “I highly recommend attending a prospective grower workshop before making a commitment to plant a vineyard.”

Program topics will include necessary viticulture expertise, site selection, risk factors, labor requirements and economics.

Adams said the commercial wine-grape industry is growing in the Texas Hill Country, and prospective growers “really need to do their homework” before planting.

AgriLife Extension presents prospective grower workshops in regions of Texas conducive to wine-grape production, and the workshop is a prerequisite for registration and acceptance into the Texas Tech Viticulture Certificate Program.

The cost for the prospective grower workshop is $150 per person or $250 per couple, including educational materials and lunch.

Online registration for the workshop can be completed by going to the AgriLife Conference Services website at http://agrilifevents.tamu.edu and entering “wine grower” in the keyword field.

For more program information, contact Adams at 830-997-7047 or psadams@ag.tamu.edu.

More information on growing wine grapes in Texas can be found at http://winegrapes.tamu.edu.

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Contacts

Penny Adams, 830-997-7047, psadams@ag.tamu.edu

Farm & Ranch Fruit and nut crops, grapes Regional Southwest grape, wine-grape