Winegrower Tastes Benefits Of Research, Hard Work
(Continued from Page E 4)
“vinefira” types, because they
are the biggest sellers in the
area. Most of Waltz’s grapes
are pre-contracted in the
spring to local winegrowers.
The price depends on the abil
ity to deliver good-quality
grapes.
Grape quality depends on a
lot of factors, including pH
and sugar content, but the
most important criteria is
taste. As September harvest
time approaches, Waltz regu
larly tests all three.
“If you want good quality
grapes, you have to wait until
the best flavor,” he said.
“Make sure the taste is there,
not just the right (pH and
sugar) numbers.”
Quality is affected by the
heaviness of the fruit set.
Thinning the fruit is often
necessary earlier in the season.
But rain during blooming time
can “automatically do the
thinning for you,” Waltz said.
Three to six tons of grapes
per acre is a typical yield for
the varieties Waltz grows. He
estimates that he harvested
4-5 tons per acre this year, a
yield that was boosted with
the help of some overhead irri
gation. A ton of grapes pro
duces about 160 gallons of
wine, depending on the type
and pressing method.
IN NEW Y<
Rodick Farm Machinery
347 US Route 9
Schroon Lake, NY 12870
518-532-7724
IN VIRi
Roadside Farm Equipment
11470 Harry Byrd Hwy.
Berryville, VA 22611
540-955-0805
Grandview Farm Supply
423 N. Main St.
Bridgewater, VA 22812
540-828-0309
Oakes Implement Company
14249 Franklin Turnpike
Dry Fork, VA 24549
434-724-7326
Hertzler Farm & Feed
3209 Buckingham Rd,
Powhatan, VA 23139
804-598-4021
Long Agribusiness offers the choices
to make the right tractor decision.
The grapes are harvested by
hand, with the help of Waltz’s
friends and family. Mechani
cal grape harvesters exist, but
Waltz said the machines can
break canes and create the po
tential for crop losses.
It takes about 60 hours per
acre to prune the canes in the
winter. Along with the atten
tion required during growing
season and harvest, Waltz es
timated a total of 250 hours of
labor per acre each year to
tend the grapes.
“I thought tobacco was a lot
of work,” he said. Beside the
labor-intensive nature of
growing wine grapes, “the
timing is more crucial” as
well, and the grapes are “not
as forgiving.”
A substantial start-up in
vestment was required, in
cluding a tractor that can fit
between the rows to cultivate
and hill the rows.
Even with all the work and
investment, the wine grape
business holds promise,
according to Waltz.
“It looks good at this
point,” he said.
As for the 2002 Cabernet
Sauvignon and Merlot wines
being made from Waltz’s
grapes?
“Quality-wise, it’s looking
like it’s going to be a real good
year.”
Tough, Smart, New.
Powered to Fit.
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INI A:
FaritiTrac
A Common Sense
Solution
45-52 Horse power
Attractive financing is available at these dealers
lancfTrac
The Powerful Logic of Performance
20-55 Horsepower
Waltz uses a small plow to hill the rows in the fall to prevent freezing of the
grafts near the vine bases. The hills will also help control weeds next spring.
Mark Your Calendars For Convention Feb . 4-6
(Continued from Page El)
full-day vegetable school. The
annual Grower Reception and
Dinner will conclude the day.
The second day will feature
full-day sessions on direct
marketing, greenhouse orna
mentals (bedding plants and
|{B Long Agribusiness
Creating New Solutions
P.O Box 1139* Torboro, NC 27886 • Tel (252) 823-4151 • Fox (252) 823-4576 • wwwlongagn com
perennials), and potatoes, plus
half-day sessions on weed con
trol, small fruit, irrigation and
wildlife management. The
fourth annual Ice Cream So
cial that evening will offer a
relaxing opportunity for grow
ers to visit with each other in
formally.
LongTrac
A Common Sense Solution
40-65 Horsepower
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 7, 2002-E5
The final day will feature
full-day sessions on small
fruits and cut flowers plus
half-day sessions on pumpkins
and fall ornamentals; vine
crops; tomato pest manage
ment; tomatoes, peppers, and
eggplant; processing tomatoes;
and organic production.
IN PENNSYLVANIA:
Country Boy's Supply
1126 W. Roy Furman Hwy.
Graysville, PA 15337
724-428-4705
Box 677
McConnellsburg, PA 17233
717-485-3181
T.S. Montross
Farm Machinery
RR3 Box 263 M
Dallas, PA 18612
570-333-4147
Forks Equipment Inc.
4404 Glover Road
Easton, PA 18040
610-252-8828
McConnellsburg Motor
& Implement
875 Lincoln Way East
Betts Equipment
3139 Windy Bush Rd.
New Hope, PA 18938
215-598-7501
Sandy Lake Implement
3675 Sandy Lake Rd.
Sandy Lake, PA 16145
724-376-2489