March 16 Prospective Winegrape Grower Workshop Ripe with Info

HOUSTON, TX - A Prospective Wine-grape Grower Workshop will be held March 16 at the Texas AgriLife Extension Services offices at 3033 Bear Creek Drive in Houston. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m., and program presentation will take place from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

“The workshop is a one-day educational program designed to provide an overview of the unique requirements and economic risks associated with establishment and operation of a commercial vineyard in Texas,” said Fritz Westover, AgriLife Extension viticulture advisor for the Texas Gulf Coast region.

Westover, who will provide program instruction, said the workshop was created to address the most common concerns potential grape producers may have prior to committing valuable resources toward a commercial vineyard enterprise.

Program topics will include necessary viticulture expertise, vineyard site selection, risk factors, vineyard labor requirements and vineyard economics.

“The program will help prospective growers decide if grape growing is a good fit for their farm and lifestyle, and what they would need to do or consider for their vineyard to be commercially successful,” he said.

Westover added that if an individual decides to plant a commercial vineyard, AgriLife Extension offers more programs for grape growing in Texas.  The workshop fee is $125 per person or $200 per couple, and includes educational materials and lunch.

Registration for the workshop can be completed online through AgriLife Conference Services at their website, http://agrilifevents.tamu.edu, using the keyword “wine.”

The workshop serves as a prerequisite for application to the Texas Viticulture Certificate Program offered by Texas Tech University and AgriLife Extension.