Black Spanish grapes
Black Spanish grapes video showing how the vines are loaded with grapes.
Grape clusters are growing fast
We’ve had lots of rain this spring and the grapes are growing great. Check out the clusters of Black Spanish grapes. 
Grapevines are showing signs of life
The shoots are starting to emerge on the grapes vines. The muscadines are still sleeping, but the buds are starting to swell a bit.
This year I decided to try and propagate some new vines from the clippings. About 125 vines to try Lomanto, Black Spanish, and Blanc Dubois. We’ll see how it goes.
Black Spanish grapes getting close
The brix is only 15, but color is looking good. I’m hoping the brix will get up to at least 20, but this is the first year of fruiting. These vines were three years old when I got them, with great root systems. Second year in the vineyard. I tried to limit the fruit this year to only 2-3 bunches per vine, but as you can see, more grew on some vines.
The Birds the Birds…
I was so looking forward to testing the sugar levels in the Lomanto grapes today, but the birds beat me to it. I only let a few bunches grow this year, but all were stripped clean. Here is what was left…
Lomanto grapes are filling out nicely!
These Lomanto grapes are getting huge and knock on wood, no rot yet. I must have started spraying early enough to prevent it. I can’t wait until next year when I can have a good crop. It will be two more years before we get a full crop. Now you know why it takes so long for wine to age. It actually starts from when you plant the vines. Three years for a partial crop and 4-5 for a full crop.
Adding Blanc Dubois grapevines and more Black Spanish
Decided to add a row of Blanc Dubois grapevines to the vineyard. 30 vines to be exact. Living in the South we are limited to types of vines we can grow due to pierce disease. After a lot of research I decided on this vine. Plus I needed some white grapes, I’ve only planted red to date. I hear some people don’t want or like a red wine. Don’t understand that, but okay, white will be added. The Black Spanish did pretty good last year so I decided to add another half row. I now have about 30 of those vines as well. They didn’t have issues like the Lomanto did last year. They also don’t grow near as fast. With the vigor less, should make it easier to work with.
My poor wet, tired feet.
Norton and Muscadine wine making
I found a local vineyard that sells Norton and Muscadine grapes. Had planned to pick 200-400lbs of Norton, but after several hours of picking and having to pick out the bad grapes from 90% of the bunches, decided to pick muscadines instead.
Here is a good bunch, not many were like this.
Here are the Muscadines.
Ended up with 40 lbs of Norton grape and 60 lbs of muscadine. It takes about 100 lbs of fruit to make 6 gallons, soooooo that’s right I got lazy and just decided to crush them together. I know you shouldn’t mix, but dude I was wiped out after picking most of the day. By the way you pick muscadine, one grape at a time.
So here is what it looks like after yeast and the fermentation working well.
Japanese beetles are attacking
Well, I leaned a valuable lesson today. I found beetles on my grapevines last week, so I picked up some beetle bags with attractant. It works great, just don’t put near your grapevines. I had bags on each end of the rows and the vines closest to bag were covered with jap beetle and the vines in the middle had few. Note to self: put bags far away from vines next year. Checkout the bag of beetles. I mean what do you do with these things? Also, after a few days of decaying beetles, those bags stink it up pretty good.
Grapevine and Muscadine update
Every week they need to be trained to the wire. Purchased a great taping tool that makes the training quick. No issues with blackrot or other fungus yet, and no bugs yet.
Before and After
Lasterday Wines 
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