Monday, January 9, 2017

Back Yard Vineyard seminar - March 14, 2017

So I have had so many questions about grape growing I'm putting on a Back Yard Vineyard seminar from 7-8:30pm on Tuesday March, 14, 2017 at the Strathcona County Library.  Seems crazy that growing nice grapes in the Sherwood Park and Edmonton area is a thought or possibility given the climate but the reality is that you can grow really nice grapes there.  St. Croix pictures below;



One of the reasons this is possible is that this area has one of the longest frost free periods in the prairie provinces and the long days in the summer increase growing time each day.  But the real secret is not the summer heat or sun; its staving off the winter cold.

So I am going to be talking about what varieties can survive and thrive in our area and early enought to ripen. We'll talk about how to care for the vines, basic planning, pruning and dealing with pests as well as how to use the grapes. Its an introduction, but for the enthusiast, this will get anyone started.

The seminar is being held at the Starhcona Public Library here is the link,
http://www.sclibrary.ab.ca/programmain.htm    hope to see you there.

2016 Foch Is Bottled - Say What?!

So we just bottled our 2016 Marechal Foch. Yes we did (well actually it was at the beginning of December). I know what some of you are thinking - its to young, you can't bottle the wine yet.


This style of wine is meant to be drank early and usually is on the down slide within a few years of bottling.We went with little skin contact and that exaggerated the fruit forward style of this wine.

We really like this Foch, as do others (went though alot of it over the Christmas holiday season) it is fruity with aromas and flavours of ripe plum and of course the sweet cherry prominence of Marechal Foch and some raspberry with moderate acidity.