Start by digging a 10 to 12′′ diameter hole about 12′′ deep. Fill in the bottom with loose soil. Set the grape plant in the hole – then fill in with soil around the roots. Vines are easy to grow, hard to kill, and will provide you with more fun than challenges if you set up your vineyard correctly. Be easy on yourself for the first three years — the vines will have problems, but solving them will help you understand what your vineyard needs.
If you aim to sell grapes, you’ll need at least 10 acres to make it profitable, but ideally more. Planning to grow a backyard vineyard? Want to make wine? Now is the time!… This article will guide you to learn and start your own backyard vineyard.
A sunny spot with well-drained soil is ideal. Know temperature range. Grape vines yield tasty grapes with 7 to 8 hours of sunlight daily. Your resources are local winegrowers. Check nearby backyard vintners for advice. Whether a vineyard is your hobby or business, you need equipment to best install in spring. Research:
- How much money to start?
- Is 10 acres enough?
- How much wine 1 acre produces?
- Can I grow in my backyard?
- What is the smallest vineyard?
- How much to plant small vineyard?
Planting costs $30,000 to $100,000 per acre over three years depending on land.
Here are steps in creating the backyard vineyard:
- Find the right sunny spot with pH 7 soil.
- Install trellising for vines to grow on.
- Amend soil if needed.
- Choose disease resistant grape varieties.
- Plant dormant vines in early spring.
- Water them during first growing season.
- Prune vines in second growing season.
- Harvest and enjoy grapes in third season!
Tom Powers is the author of “The Organic Vineyard: A Step-by-Step Guide for Growing Your Own Grapes,” a how-to guide that outlines everything that the novice grower needs to know about planting their own vineyard. The five row vineyard will have around 65 vines once fully planted.
To establish a profitable vineyard business, you need at least 5 acres if selling wine directly to consumers. For the wholesale market, 10 acres is the minimum size but more acres achieve economies of scale.
Vineyard prices range from $50,000 to $1 million per acre in California, depending largely on location. Annual costs range $4,000-$9,000 per acre after initial planting investment of $30,000-$100,000 per acre over 3 years.
Revenue averages around $11,000 per acre from 5 tons of grapes at $2,200 per ton. Subtracting $5,000 per acre in costs and $150 per acre for harvest, net income is approximately $5,850 per acre.
Vineyards require patience as at least 2 years pass before yielding fruit. But with careful planning they can make good, long-term investments.