Grape Escape

Growing grapes and drinking wine give us a connection with the Ancients and their enjoyment. The Cabernet Sauvignon grape, right, contains a lot of tannin, which leads to a good red wine when properly aged. Photos courtesy grapepictures.com

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   DOES
growing your own grapes in the hope of making your own wine seem like a tall order?

   Maybe not for our grandparents or folks like John Kurylo of Ringoes.

   Mr. Kurylo planted his first seedlings or "bear-rooted sticks" behind his Ringoes home in spring 2001.

   Why go to such great lengths? Mr. Kurylo says simply, "I get great satisfaction from planting plants that produce food."

Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, above, are grown widely in California.

   The grape sticks were mail ordered from J. E. Miller Nurseries, Inc., Canandaigua, N.Y. Mail ordered plants are very delicate and run a high rate of failure. This is Mr. Kurylo’s second growing season and all of his five original sticks have survived! It takes three seasons to produce mature grapes.

Gewurztraminer grapes

   Mr. Kurylo ordered both a variety to produce wine as well as a variety to be used as a table grape. If jelly were desired, an additional third variety would be needed.

   The grape garden or potential grape arbor is always challenged. Friendly animals — namely, deer — have eaten the shoots and leaves. Placing cages over the shoots is a solution.

Pinot Gris grapes

   However, this spring’s freezing temperatures are harder to deal with. Mr. Kurylo covered the plants with a blanket, but they still froze. Since vine plants are fairly sturdy, Mr. Kurylo remains optimistic.

   Mr. Kurylo follows an organic growth process with his grapes. No pesticides are used. He uses his own organic compost which he makes at his home. This makes his home operation even more unique.

Pinot Noir grapes

   There are no organic grape growers certified in New Jersey by the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA), reports Eric Bremer, certification administrator of NOFA. To obtain a good source of organic grape growing information, Mr. Bremer suggests you reach out to the organic grape growers of California.

Gold Riesling grapes

   Mr. Kurylo has used the Internet and Elliot Coleman’s books on soil fertility to guide him.

   Motivation, to start his adventure with grapes, came when Mr. Kurylo visited his great aunt and uncle’s winery in Bordentown . His relatives, Austrian immigrants, started a commercial winery, which impressed the then 7-year-old.

   The history of wine making dates back to 6000 BC. Pottery jars, used to store wine, have been excavated from the Near East and Egypt. As wine spread to different cultures so did civilization. Growing grapes and drinking wine give us a connection with the Ancients and their enjoyment.

   Gardening, an ancient and universal enjoyment, further connects us to the environment and each other. John Kurylo recognizes and appreciates this.



   For more information on growing grapes in your area, visit www.grapeseek.com.
The site features an eGroup for both amateur and experienced grape growers, visit groups.yahoo.com/group/grapesrus.