Workshops and Clinics

New Grape Grower Workshop at Chesapeake College

March 26, 2010 for more info and registration:
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Disease/Pest/Weed Workshop Lancaster, PA

March 17, 2010 Penn State Cooperative Extension, College of Agricultural Sciences
for info contact Mark Chien, State-wide Viticulture Extension Educator
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note: The Penn State Cooperative Extension Office will also be conducting a New Grape Growers Workshop on April 7, 2010.

Pruning Clinics

March 13, 2010 Maryland Grape Growers Association Pruning clinic #3 at Terrapin Station Winery, Elkton, (Cecil County)
get more info

Workshop Reports

Eastern Shore Grape Variety Performance

October 26th, 2009...Research conducted by Dr. Joseph A. Fiola lends further insights on grape varieties that do well on the Eastern Shore...

Dr. Joseph A. Fiola, gives a tour of the test vineyard at the Wye Research & Education Center to a group of government officials, industry experts and grape growers on the Upper Shore of Maryland.

The tour included a report on how different grape varieties performed in local growing conditions. Dr. Fiola also highlighted new varieties being developed at the Center that retained the aromatics and pigments normally lacking in hotter climates. These varieties will soon be available to growers.
For more info:
Dr. Fiola's website

Dr. Fiola and Jennie Schmidt, President MD Grape Growers Association, discuss practical applications in a production vineyard

Upper Shore Regional Council, Cecil and Queen Anne's County Government officials attended in support of the shoreVines initiative
 


shoreVines are growing...

On the Upper Eastern Shore our shoreVines pioneers are building a "chesapeake wine country"...
a combination of “family farms” looking to diversify and a significant group of new “entrepreneur” growers has fueled a "pioneer" movement in the planting of vineyards on the Upper Eastern Shore of Maryland.

With the current demand for grapes, good potential profitability per acre, and the “romanticized aura” of wine growing, the trend is expected to develop into economic opportunity and sustainable agri-businesses.

On December 7, 2009 the Upper Shore Regional Council (USRC) and members of the Agricultural Sustainability Committee officially launched the "grow grapes ~ a vital option for the upper shore" shoreVines marketing campaign and website.

See press conference release

Upper Shore Regional Council Chair, Roy Crow, underscored the importance of the shoreVines campaign as follows:

“I thank my fellow USRC members and the many people that have combined to create shoreVines.com. The leaders of the Upper Shore Region of Maryland have worked hard to encourage successful modern agriculture practices with smart growth planning techniques to produce economic success coupled with the protection of the natural resources that form our rural heritage and culture.”

Upper Shore Regional Council Chair, Roy Crow, introduces the shoreVines press conference to members of the Upper Shore Regional Council, government officials, grape growers and the media