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Has anyone had experience controlling phylloxera? How do you control them? This year I had a significant phylloxera problem. I have 72 own rooted vines and about 1/4 had phylloxera galls on the leaves, which also means on the roots. There are 2 Himrod (table grapes) that had them the worst. But...

I live in New Hampshire, and it is cold. A few weeks ago I finished my initial racking and started cold stabilization. At that time the outside temp was getting down to the low 20s. I put my carboys out on a North porch protected from light. I thought that the stabilization would probably be...

For the last few years critters have eaten my grapes just before harvesting (naturally). Last year I got 6 gallons of wine, this year 16. But it was a race against 'the critters', though most of the grapes were ~21 B, the Frontenac and Marquette were ~24. I thought that the 'critters' must have...

This year I anticipate making some wine from Traminette. It is a cross of Gewurztraminer and Seyval. I read info about making the wine from Cornell and they suggested fermenting on the skins. Then I read an article from Purdue and they suggested not fermenting on the skins at all. According to...

This past fall/winter I made my first wine from my grapes. I planned to cold stabilize during the winter but 2 things stopped that. First, a difficult/failed MLF and second, a really cold winter. Since I didn't plan to MLF the white, I put it in the basement/garage while I waited on the MLF to...

This past week I bottled my first wine made from my grapes, 1 white and 2 reds. I only made 6 gallons, but that is probably a good amount to start with. Through the process I was discouraged several times. but I turned here and got quick help with the decisions. The result is some pretty decent...

My wine is almost complete. I have racked it for the third and last time. This is the first time I have succeeded in taking production this far and I have really learned a lot. I have gotten some very good and much needed help right here. I am really feeling good about what I have accomplished...

I have 4 containers of wine aging now. 2 1 gal of white (mix of Cayuga and Seval), 1 gal of Marquette/Frontenac and 3 gals of Baco/Foch. Critters really hit my grapes hard just as harvest was getting under way. I have read elsewhere about trying different yeasts 'just to see what happens'. Well...

Will doing the first racking while the ML fermentation is (hopefully) under way cause any problems? I would think that the bacteria wouldn't notice. Thank you, Chuck Crisler

I have been checking my sugar levels regularly. Note: it is mid-September, just a bit late. On Sept. 14 my Frontenac and Marquette tested around 22-24 B, so I decided to harvest, which is a good thing because something (rabbits?) is eating my grapes. So it is a race between getting sugar high...

I am about to place an order for my wine making supplies and would really appreciate some recommendations. I have been reading the 'how to' forum and this 'newbie' forum, but there is a lot to absorb. I am continuing to read but need to get started. I hope to have Foch, Frontenaec, Marquette...

Do others have problems with ticks in their vineyards? If so, how do you deal with them? Here in New England they are pretty bad and generally carry Lyme and many other very nasty diseases. I use Ortho Bug-b-gone Max. According to the label it is effective against ticks and can be used around...

I grow with a VSP trellis. I didn't know that it was considered the most labor intensive style when I built it. Anyway, I have heard about plucking leaves to increase sun light on fruit shortly before harvest and to promote better air circulation. Does anyone know anything about this? What is...

I am originally from the real south, so I had to put that in quotes. I have been growing grapes for almost 20 years now. So far I have made 1 gallon of wine from my grapes. However, I have made every single possible mistake that one person can make. Now, if anyone tells me that there are more...