B3B—Lancaster Farming, Thursday, December-24,1981
Vineyard vision comes true for Cumberland man
BY BETH HEMMINGER
Staff Correspondent
SHIPPENSBURG
Country
When hearing those words most
people invision the ancient
vineyards of France and Italy, or
the hilly terrain of northern
California.
But Jene Cromer had another
picture in his mind. He invisioned a
vineyard on his farm of rolling hills
and fertile terrain located 7 miles
east of Shippensburg.
Just this month his ideas became
a reality. In early December,
Cromer opened the doors of the
Quarry Hill Winery for business.
Cromer said his idea to open a
winery developed about 10 years
ago when he bought the farm on
Quarry Hill Road in Cumberland
County. The first summer he and
his family lived on the farm he
noticed all the wild blackberry’s
thriving, blossoming and bearing
fruit. He hated to see the berries
wasted, so he made a few bottles of
wine.
Cromer said, “I enjoyed the first
endeavor in wine-making, so I
decided to plant an experimental
plot of grapes to learn more about
the juicy fruit.”
“Growing grapes is not an
overnight process,” he
proclaimed. It takes five years
before any grape grower harvests
a full crop from the vines. But
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Cromer said those five years are
crucial for grapes and their
production for years to come.
After several successful years of
growing grapes on the ex
perimental plot, Cromer expanded
the vineyard to four acres, adding
four varieties - two French
hybrids, the Chelois and Vidal; and
two American hybrids, Delaware
and Diamond. Cromer stated that
the Diamond grape is the most
recent addition to his vineyard and
has not yet been harvested.
Cromer explained, “Grapes
cannot be harvested from the vine
until they are four to five years
old.” He continued that the first
three years of growth are the most
difficult for the vine and the
grower. Weed control is the major
problem during those years.
He noted that herbicides cannot
be used in the early stages of
growth, therefore, hand labor, is
die only alternative. During the
second year, the vines are pruned.
Cromer stated that the early
pruning builds strong stalks ad
ding stability and strength for
years of service.
Growing grapes is like being a
mother, said Cromer. You have to
train them how to grow. Cromer
trains his vines on a six-arm
kniffin trellis.
Wine
As the name implies, the six-arm
kniffin is designed for the vines to
(Turn to Page 839)
Quarry Hill Winery owner Jene Cromer has
turned a hobby into a full-time job. Here he
makes an adjustment on his fermentation and
holding tank a remodeled, insulated milk
tank. The juicer, on the right, stems and juices
LONG JOHN //
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