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RGV_Starting a Vineyard_LayoutCosts.pdf
1. Starting a Vineyard
In the Rio Grande Valley
Costs & Layout
Rio Farms, Inc.
Monte Alto, Texas
February 10, 2023
Fran Pontasch, Viticulture Program Specialist
2. Why Do You Want to Grow Grapes?
• Sell grapes commercially
• Make Wine Commercially
• Scenery for an Event Center
• Make Wine for Family & Friends
• Lifestyle - Physical & Mental Health
3. Grapes to Wine in Volume
1 Ton = 160 gallons wine
3 Tons = 480 gallons wine
480 gal = 1,817 liters ~ 200 cases
6. Early Grapes in Texas
Mission Grape
• Hernando Cortes brought the Mission grape to Mexico for sacramental use
• Franciscan missionaries planted Mission grapes in El Paso area in 1600’s
Convent Grape
Nuns from France carried vines to Canada and eventually to Brownsville & Corpus Christi
Possibly Ingleside
Herbemont
Grown in Bellville 1860-1900
7. The Texan Who Saved
the Vineyards of France
Thomas Volney Munson
• Bred over 300 disease-resistant grape varieties
specifically for the southwest
• Sent phylloxera resistant native Texas rootstocks to France
in 1880
8. Val Verde Winery 1883
Oldest continuously running winery in Texas; survived Prohibition
Frank Qualia established Val Verde
Winery in Del Rio, TX
• Grew Mission grapes until 1890
• By 1910 vineyard replanted with
Lenoir, Herbemont, & Champanel
9. 1950’s
• Attempt to grow Vitis
vinifera table grapes in
the Winter Garden and
Lower Rio Grande Valley
• 3,000 acres planted
Vines died prematurely due
to Pierce’s Disease, and
Cotton Root Rot
14. Most vineyards 1-5 acres
Gulf Coast Viticulture Region
Land Use for Commercial Grapes
380 acres
169 vineyards
Ave vineyard size = 2.6 acres
15. Rio Grande Valley Land Use for Grapes
• 25.5 acres
• 7 vineyards
• 4 wineries
• Ave vineyard size = 3.5 acre
Hidalgo & Cameron Counties
PD Resistant Varieties
Blanc Du Bois
Black Spanish
Camminaire Noir
Convent
Caminante Blanc
Paseante Noir
Errante Noir
16. Vineyard Requirements
Water quality and availability
Soils character
Climate
Topography
Disease and Insect Pressures
17. Design irrigation system to supply all
water needs in an extended drought
and ability to deliver 5 gal/min/acre
Water Quantity & Quality
Water pH 6.5-7.5
Water SAR < 7
18. Lower Rio Grande Valley
The majority of soils are deep,
moderately fine textured.
Problems can be -
• inadequate subsurface
drainage
• Saline soils
• Saline water
• Conditions favor possible
cotton root rot
National Resources Conservation Service of USDA
23. Percolation Test
for Internal Soil Drainage
• Adequate: 1.5” drop per hour
• Excellent: 3” drop per hour
Grape roots do not tolerate wet feet
Deep ripping may be needed to break up
any clay hard pans
24. 15 min
40 min
1 hour
24 hours 48 hours
24 hours
4 hours
Sandy Loam Clay Loam
34. • Certified Dormant bareroot vines
• 1-2 years in advance.
• Order 1 year for ungrafted ownrooted vines, and 2 years for grafted
vines
• Order requires deposit.
• Vines delivered usually via UPS or FedEx
• With moist wood shavings.
• Keep moist & dark until
• Bring them to shady spot 7 days prior to planting
When Ordering Dormant Bareroot Vines…
35. Dig Holes
Plant
Add Grow Tubes
Water In
1st Leaf or
Year 1
30-40 hours per acre
Plant before temperature heats up
Green Vines
Green Grafts
Green Bench Grafts
38. Criteria for Healthy Grapes
In the Rio Grande Valley
• Loose clusters
• Slightly thicker skin
• Heat tolerant
• Drought tolerant
• Pierce’sDisease resistant
• Without history of CRR
39. Blanc Du Bois
Premier White Wine
Grape for Texas
Pierce’s Disease Tolerant
Vigorous grower
Susceptible to bunch rot
Muscat aromas
Versatile
45. Major Diseases That Can Be
Avoided in Design Phase
Phylloxera
Nematodes
Cotton Root Rot
Tolerant Varieties
Site Selection
Resistant Rootstocks
Pierce’s Disease
46. From: Pierce’s Disease Overview and Management Guide, J. Kamas
Pierce’s Disease - Most Limiting Factor to
Growing Grapes in Southeastern US
47. From: Pierce’s Disease Overview and Management Guide, J. Kamas
Pierce’s Disease
Bacterial disease: Xylella
fastidiosa
Vectored by sharpshooter
leafhopper
All vinifera and most hybrids
are susceptible
No cure
51. Case Study: Phase I – Infrastructure Phase, Pre-Planting (2020)
Winery Building
Rainwater Tank
Main irrigation – 10A
High Fence
Rainwater Tank
Main Irrigation
Winery – septic & electric High Fence
52. Phase II – Winery build out, Vineyard Installation 2A (2021)
Winery build out
Kitchen/lab
Restrooms
AC
Vineyard Establishment
Irrigation
Trellis
Plant 2 A
53. Triple C Vineyard & Winery - Milam County
10A vineyard over 7-10 years, within 13A of high fence
Phase III – Install trellis, irrigation, plant 2A in 2022
Thereafter, install 1 acre each year until vineyard is complete
54. Keep in Mind…
Development costs vary widely -
$15,000 to $35,000 per acre
Productivity & profitability depend on the
life & health of the vines
$2000 - $4000 annually/acre to manage
Equipment Costs
$67,000
Take Your Time in Planning & Design
55.
56. Summary
Start Small and grow in Phases
Know Your Site
Take Time in Making Your Plan
Know the Market
Keep Accurate Records
Take Lots of Pictures of your Progress
Learn as Much as You Can