July 20 workshop to address ‘grape expectations’

FORT WORTH — The Texas AgriLife Extension Service will conduct a Prospective Wine-Grape Grower Workshop from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on July 20 for people interested in commercial wine-grape production.

The program will be held at the LightCatcher Winery & Bistro, 6925 Confederate Park Road, approximately 15 miles from downtown Fort Worth, near Lake Worth.

Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. with the program to follow.

“This workshop will be useful to those considering planting a commercial vineyard or those thinking about expanding a smaller operation to a commercial scale,” said Fran Pontasch, AgriLife Extension viticulture adviser for North Texas, who works from the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Stephenville.

Pontasch said the workshop was developed to help small-scale producers determine if it is both economically feasible and individually suitable for them to commit to a commercial vineyard enterprise. Program topics include necessary viticulture expertise, site selection, risk factors, labor requirements and economics.

AgriLife Extension presents prospective grower workshops in regions of Texas conducive to wine-grape production, and the workshop is a prerequisite for registration and acceptance into the Texas Viticulture Certificate Program. AgriLife Extension also offers advanced programs on the specifics of wine-grape growing in Texas. More information on these workshops can be found at http://winegrapes.tamu.edu under Educational Opportunities.

The cost for the prospective grower workshop is $150 per person or $250 per couple, which includes educational materials and lunch.
To register for the workshop online, go to the AgriLife Conference Services website at http://agrilifevents.tamu.edu and enter “wine grower” in the keyword field.

For more program information, contact Pontasch at 254-968-4144, ext. 225 or fmpontasch@ag.tamu.edu.

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