Woods Wine LLC
Backyard Vineyard Lecture Series
This lecture series consists of three interactive classes: a) Introduction and Planning, b) Installing and Maintaining your Vineyard, and c) Harvest, Crush, Fermentation, and Crush. Each class can be taken without any pre-requisites.
Personalized, "hands on" education of this nature cannot be found anywhere else. Class size is limited to two students. The classes and course materials were personally developed by Ed Kwiek, using the experience gained by maintaining his own backyard vineyard since 2000. Upon completion of these courses, the students will be well equipped to plan and install their own backyard vineyard, and make white and red wine from the grapes they grow. This education will help you avoid costly mistakes, because you will install your vineyard correctly the first time!
Any student, who elects to take all three classes in the series, will be awarded an official Woods Wine LLC Completion Certificate, suitable for framing. A $75 discount will be give if you prepay for all three classes, and schedule all three classes on two consecutive days. For example, the 1st class on Saturday from 9am - Noon, the 2nd class on Saturday from 1pm to 4pm, and the third class on Sunday from 9am to Noon. The classes are held at the beautiful Woods Wine Vineyard and Home Winery in Perinton NY. There is an international award winning commercial vineyard and winery just 3 miles away, including a tasting room. It is an easy trip to the Finger Lakes where many more vineyards and wineries are located. Hotels and restaurants are located near the Woods Wine property, and the quaint canal town of Fairport is just minutes away, where dining, shopping, and sightseeing are a pleasant experience.
See the course descriptions below:
Introduction and Planning - This introductory session will provide a high level discussion of what is involved in establishing a Backyard Vineyard. Topics include: site selection, cultivar selection, trellis selection, vineyard layout, cost estimating, and planning. The objective of this class is to familiarize the aspiring backyard vineyardists with both the joy of having a backyard vineyard, and also the work involved. After taking this class, students will be better equipped to decide if they would like to proceed with installing their own backyard vineyard.
Installing and Maintaining Your Vineyard - This course will cover how to make your dream of having a Backyard Vineyard a reality. The "nuts and bolts" of starting up and maintaining a Backyard Vineyard will be discussed. Installation topics include preparing your soil, installing your trellis, and planting your vines. Maintenance topics include managing the vineyard floor, training your vines, pruning fundamentals, petiole analysis,and pest control. This is a very practical course that will provide the students with the information needed to roll up their sleeves and get to work. If you enjoy having a garden, you'll love having a Backyard Vineyard.
Harvest, Crush, Fermentation, and Press - There are many elements included in determining the correct time to harvest your grapes. In this class we will look at those elements,and there will be a hands-on demonstration of using a field refractometer. Crusher types will be discussed as well as a high level overview of the chemical additives recommended during the crush. Both whites and reds will be discussed. We will then move on to the tools and equipment used during the fermentation process. We will have a high level overview of chaptalization, enzymes, yeast selection, nutrients, and punchdowns. The various types of presses available, and wine handling after pressing, will be discussed. Upon completion of this class, the student will be equipped with enough information to make wine from grapes on their own.
