A Family
(Continued from Page E 3)
grapes from vinifera varieties
are in biggest demand and
command the highest price,
they are not as hardy and pro
ductive in all areas, so the
Carrolls decided to experi
ment.
“Grafting European vines
onto different rootstocks en
able us today to realistically
and economically consider
planting these varieties,” said
Tom Jr..
Part of the hard work was
digging holes for the six-inch
twigs, which arrived in April
and were planted by hand,
which translated into more
than 4,500 holes and days
of hard labor. The tiny plants
cost $1.50-$4, depending on
rooted versus grafted and the
variety of the plant. The
plants came from California,
New York, and Canadian
nurseries.
Tom Jr. peers into vats newly filled with grapes
from other growers in the area. The vats are insulat
ed with a cooling jacket that allows for refrigerated
solution to run inside the vat and control the tem
perature to the wine. This changes the rate of fer
mentation. “There’s no stomping going on here,”
said Chris Carroll.
■ "TICO/FERBO
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TICO, a leader in irrigation systems for
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Also virtually all makes of couplers, fit
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Endeavor
“Another big part of the
process is finding good nurse
ries,” said Tom Jr..
“You have to be careful
about putting in clean stock,”
said Chris.
Additionally, to ensure a
successful planting, the entire
20-acre property is enclosed
by 8-foot galvanized woven
mesh deer exclusive fence.
Making A Niche
As for marketing, “the key
is finding a variety to make a
niche to get on the world
scene,” said Tom Jr., “that
will come from more years of
grape growing and more vine
yards.”
The historic property, along
with the charm of the con
verted bam area, will lend it
self to marketing the wine,
they believe.
“With that history, we’re
going to stay with American
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Tom Carroll Sr. surveys progress on the vineyard and winery site. “After
years of hard work, it came together and bloomed into this it’s an amazing
thing to see happen.”
roots,” said Tom Carroll Sr.
“Marketing will follow
through with American histo
ry. We have a commitment to
Americana concept in our
brand.”
Sheds used before as run
ins for the horses now house
equipment, and the barn’s
stalls have been converted to
an area for tasting and wine
sales.
The Carrolls are scheduled
to plant an additional 10 acres
next year. According to the
Carrolls, the average size vine
yard in the U.S. is five acres,
while the average size vine
yard in Europe is three acres.
They believe that this proves
that the endeavor is viable for
a farmer with limited land.
Additionally, since grapes
thrive in low-moisture situa
tions even thriving during
the drought means that a
crop of grapes could offset
other more rain-dependent
Rovatti TL slurry pumps are
high-pressure slurry pumps with a
unique “bolt on” chopper system
The standard pump features a high efficiency
open-vane impeller with an interchangeable
wear ring and fixed cutting blade to handle
all but the very toughest of straw, hay or other
difficult residuals For these conditions, the
chopper unit can be simply bolted to the
pump where it is driven by the existing pump
shaft, enabling it to handle virtually any
waste products requiring chopping
A number of additional features
make these the most versatile and
reliable units on the market:
• Special permanently lubricated
mechanical seal foi longer life
• Over-sized bearings
• Lubricated chopper shaft bearings
• Chopper shaft shear-pin to reduce risk of
damage to the shaft and impeller
• A range of four tractor pto pumps and
four bare-shaft pumps with flows from
105-1000 gpm
• Replaceable wear ring
• 540 rpm or 1000 rpm
speeds , ,
• Finest c:ast iron
The pump is mounted on a heavy-duty
wheeled cart with pto shaft,
6” quick-action suction fittings and
4” discharge fittings as standard.
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 7, 2002-E7
crops that have not done as
well during the growing year,
they said.
Grapes will experience dis
ease pressure in a wet sum
mer, in fact.
Carroll Sr. hopes their oper
ation would be considered a
model for helping to offer a vi
able alternative to using land
as opposed to development.
No Shortcuts
Quality is a focus of their
efforts, said Chris. “It’s all
we’re about. We have not
taken any shortcuts. There is
no real shortcut if you want to
do it the right way. We’re
making the harder, more ex
pensive decisions,” she said,
but the family considers the
extra outlay and patience to
be worth it.
Not using the first two
years of grape harvest, for ex
ample, means that although
those two crops are lost,
growth of the vines and roots
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PLASTIC MULCH AND IRRIGATION
are encouraged. The plants
can produce although per
haps in diminishing quantity
for 35 years, according to
Tom Jr..
“We are convinced and
committed to the fact that you
can produce wonderful quality
grapes in Pennsylvania. We
know it’s so, we believe it’s so,
and we’re putting our money
where our mouth is,” said
Chris.
One aspect of grape grow
ing that “appealed to me is
the aspect of community and
family doing it on the prop
erty that I grew up on,” said
Tom Jr..
“I will not get bored by
this,” said Tom Jr. “It involv
es so many disciplines.
“I don’t think it (vineyard
and winery management) will
ever get easy. It just happened
that I found something that I
love to do,” said Tom Jr.
Call for discount prices on quantity orders and for a
packet with detailed information and samples
Queen Gil drip offers
Amazingly clog resistant special plastic prevents
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reduced breaking and holes This tape will withstand
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The new patented emitters deliver a fully irrigated bed
in 20% to 40% less time than other drip tape This
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labor Queen Gil works well with all fittings Farmers
have had large increases in yields with strawberries,
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Row covers - Custom sizes made to fit vour fields
**Call for year end discount
Plastic mulch
trices: Call for year
let dir
1 25 ML at 1 ML prices
4’x2400' 1 25 ML black embossed
$49.50 1-15 rolls**l6 rolls or more $45.00
4’x4ooo’ black smooth 1 ML $62.50
4’x2ooo’ black smooth 1 ML $31.50
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Also available
Green embossed infra red thermal, red embossed
infra red thermal, and solid silver
Call for prices
Visit us on the Web at www robertmarvel com
for a complete list and prices
Toll Free 1-800-478-2214
Phone - 717-564-1478
540 Luther Rd Harrisburg PA 17111 Office
2425 Horseshoe Pike (Rt 322)
BAnnville PA 17003 Warehouse fipHRH
Only 20 Miles From Lancaster
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