what vines to purchase

[ENCELADUS]

Is it a good thing to purchase 3 year old vines that are ready to produce the following year? I was told that it is best to buy 1 year old grape vines, so they have time to "settle".
I was told that it is not a good think to buy 2 year olds either because those are just the vines that did not do well when they were 1 year olds. Is there any truth to it?

 

[Racer]

When vines get dug out of the ground the damage to the roots sets them back enough that you might as well call them 1 year old vines when you get them. So buying an older vine doesn't get you any earlier production from them.

I was gifted a vine that I had removed for a vineyard so they could replant to a different variety. That was 2 years ago. Today it is only just as big as the 1 year old vines I started 2 years ago from a nursery.

 

[FTC Wines]

I've purchased 2 yr. old & 3 yr. old vines. My experience is the 3 yr. old vines grew much faster ie. they got to the 5 ft. wire & went 5 ft. in each direction the first yr. in the ground [this year]. My 2 yr. vines [last year] just got to the 5 ft. wire, but never spread out until the next year.. The were both Merlot, planted in no. Ga. @ 1520 ft. elev. Only time will tell about grape production! Looks like I save a years growing time by using the 3 yr.old vines. Roy FightingTown Creek Wines.
Flexible people don't get bent out of shape!

 

[davewaz]

I bought two year old vines, this was their second season in my yard and they did not get to the size where I would let them fruit this year. I'm in upstate NY and was growing Cayuga white grapes. Good luck