PART 1: Starting a Commercial Vineyard
PART 2: Starting a Winery
PART 3: Resources

MYTH: There’s no market for Maryland winegrapes.
FACT: If you grow quality grapes, you can sell every bunch, every year.

Maryland's wineries imported over 580 tons of grapes in 2004 due to insufficient supply from Maryland vineyards. Simply stated, we need about 300 acres of grapes planted to meet demand. The Maryland wine industry is growing at more than triple the national average – and with more than 10 new wineries opening in the next three years, demand will only grow.

MYTH: Anyone can grow these vines in any location.
FACT: Not all varieties grow in all places. The Southern tri-county area is warmer than most other regions in Maryland. Western Maryland stays cool year-round.

It’s important to have a extension agent visit your site and research the frost/degree days/high & low temperatures, soils, and other factors to help you choose the correct varieties.

In a survey conducted in December 2004, Maryland wineries demonstrated a need for the following Maryland-grown winegrapes (listed in order of need):

Recommended grapevine nurseries.
Double A Vineyards
10277 Christy Road
Fredonia, NY 14063
716-672-8493
http://www.rakgrape.com/

Novavine
6735 Sonoma Highway
Santa Rosa, CA 95409
707.539.5678
info@novavine.com
http://www.novavine.com

Vintage Nurseries
800-499-9019
P. O. Box 279
27920 McCombs Avenue
Wasco, CA 93280

Grafted Grape Vines
2399 Wheat Road
Clifton Springs, NY 14432
315-462-3822
amberg@fltg.net

American Nursery
Route 1, Box 87B1
Madison, VA 22727
703-948-5064

Foster Grapevines, Concord Nurseries, Inc.
Mileblock Rd.
North Collins, NY 14111
800-223-2211
716-337-3246 fax

Dr. Konstantine Frank Nursery
9749 Middle Road
Hammondsport, NY 14840
800-320-0735

Basic process of starting a vineyard.
Ingredients:
   o Land
   o Time (planting, spraying, harvesting, pruning)
   o Energy
   o Equipment
   o Vines

Once you plant your vines, you’ll have 3-4 years until you produce a commercially viable (quantity) crop. Great vineyard start-up business plans are available on this site. Click on “Start a Winery/Vineyard.” The annual startup costs are explained well in these business plans.
The first year will involve preparation, planting of vines (and spraying/possibly running irrigation). Year two will involve installing the posts and trellises, training the vines, spraying and pruning. In year two, you should cut all fruit that begins growing – to ensure the vines put more energy into the roots. You’ll also need to spray and prune the vines. Years three and four are when it gets exciting, as true production nears.

The basic rule of thumb is to expect to spend $10,000 per acre in setup costs. Contact Kevin Atticks or Dr. Joe Fiola for details on where to find the best used equipment.

Economies of Scale
Many of the upfront costs of setting up a vineyard are the same whether planting five or 15 acres. Make sure you read about the benefits of growing more grapes in the business plans found below.

Return on Investment:
Grapes – depending on the variety and quality – can yield $800-1,500 per ton. You can expect to produce between 3-5 tons of grapes per acre. Some varieties will produce up to 8 tons per acre without a loss in quality (though most are best at 3-4 tons per acre).

The more you can mechanize the process, the better. Put the spraying unit on your tractor. Purchase a mechanical harvester attachment for your tractor. Our largest commercial vineyards (run by the wineries themselves) do their best to save time/energy so that there’s a higher return on investment.

PART 1: Starting a Commercial Vineyard
PART 2: Starting a Winery
PART 3: Resources