A Real Vineyard...

The last time we met, I showed you the progress of the 

grapevine.  After several years, it put on fruit.

We harvested.  All THREE bunches.

We ate a few of them.  But, they are really wine grapes, not table grapes.

Pretty acidy....if that's a word.

But, on last Sunday, we went to a private tour of a real vineyard.

Five years ago, when we moved here, we joined the wine club at

Driftwood Estate Winery.

It's just down the road a bit.  And, we like wine.

We agreed to take a quarterly 'shipment' of three bottles of wine.

A hardship, I know.  But, we did it.

They have a 'Pick-Up Party' each time, so locals...or any member who wants to...

can come to the winery and pick up their 'shipment'.

Entertainment and some snacks and wine.

Another hardship....lol

We recently received an invitation to take a complementary tour of the vineyard,

followed by a box lunch....and, of course, wine.

It just so happened to occur on the hottest day we've had all summer.

But, it was worth it.

Gary Elliot, owner and wine maker, led the tour.

He knows his stuff....and, loves his job.

He talked about planting, pruning and the watering, 

that goes into growing wine grapes in Texas.

There are new acres, recently planted, but doing well.

The watering is done with drip emitters. 

  

Drops fall on each side of the vine.

It takes a bit of water.  Right now, they're taking it out of a creek that

flows through the property.

Soon, it may have to come from wells, which makes it harder, because

of the calcium in the water that clogs the emitters.

sangiovese

Grapes 'mist' themselves, through their leaves, especially when the nights stay warm.

This uses even more water.

cabernet

The welcome rains we've had this spring have certainly helped.

viognier

I asked about the later freeze we had this spring.

Gary said he has giant fans (sorry, I didn't get a photo), that he uses to 

blow the cold air up away from the ground.

It must have worked.

We gathered under the shade of a Live Oak grove, and had our box lunches

of Muffaletta sandwiches, fruit salad, chips and cookies.

photo quality due to bad focus, not too much wine

And, of course, some Longhorn Red.

By the way....we told Gary about our grapevine.

He said we're the first ones he's heard that got one to live,

much less make fruit.

We must have done something special.

Well...we planted and watered it.

Not all that special.  But, it worked.

Have a great weekend, and...

Happy Gardening...

~~Linda~~