Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Tending the Grapes



It's time to start thinking about our grapes, which is a wonderful feeling. It's the first sure sign that winter is happily behind us and that the warmer months are sure to come.

Every year about this time, Hubby enthusiastically sets out to prune the grape vines. Since taking over the neglected vines four years ago, he's been experimenting with various pruning practices and we're feeling pretty good about our first true crop this fall.



Here's a quick glimpse of a prior year's harvest.



We're more eager than ever for an abundant crop this year because we've finally decided what to do with all those grapes! We're going to make our first batch of Concord grape wine, grape juice and grape jelly to give to family and friends for the holidays.

The following are just a few examples of wine label templates I found online here.



I like the rich warmth of this gold label.



I also like the softness of the pale green.



This green and fuchsia label would be especially festive for the holidays.



While Hubby patiently pruned, a certain someone wasn't far from his side.



Both were out until dusk.

33 comments :

  1. These photos look like something out of a wine magazine! Great outfit on hubby and great shots! These labels are wonderful! I used them for a several company projects a few years ago. The company was great and the labels look beautiful.

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  2. I love those photos...and the idea of growing grapes. Good luck on the harvest. I couldn't choose between the three labels myself!

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  3. I can't imagine the patience it takes to prune grape vines but oh the reward! Best of luck to you.
    I'd choose the last label year round.

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  4. Aaaaaah! it all looks so picturesque!! How exciting for you to do this, I am sure it will be a wonderful new adventure for you and your hubby, Enjoy the process, Kathysue

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  5. Love this post. We have a home in the wine country and are surrounded by Cabernet grapes, but we only have table grapes. Still, we just pruned them too. I love your labels. I just chose the last one in the gold color for our olive oil label. They work great: peel and stick!

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  6. Oh how I would love to have my own grape vines they are so beautiful and simple.

    I vote for the green/fuchsia label for the Holidays.What a wonderful gift to give.~Kim

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  7. Love all the photos Trina! That hubby is one hard worker, isn't he?!! Love a talented, handy husband! Sweet Lucy helping, what a good girl!
    The labels are fun! It would be hard to choose just one.
    joan

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  8. A lot of work, but oh, so worth it. I'll take a bottle when you get it in! :)

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  9. Oh you lucky girl. Chantarelles AND grapes. Yum. I remember being a little girl and my parents made wine from grapes we had growing. It was a big production. Something went wrong and the bottles exploded in the kitchen during the night. I'll never forget that!

    Love that Lucy is always near.

    ~janet

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  10. Beautiful pictures! How wonderful it must be to have a vineyard in your own backyard. I'm sure everyone will be thrilled to get your wine and jelly for gifts - what a thoughtful idea.
    Seeing all the beautiful things around you makes me want to move to the country even more. :) Sarah

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  11. Too bad I live on the other side of the country - I have a wine press you can use! We bought an old orchard and make cider in the fall. Good luck with the harvest. Is spring the best time to prune the vines? I thought late fall was best, like when I prune everything else. Any adivce?

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  12. How wonderful to make something that you've grown on your own land - it doesn't get any better than this! Leigh

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  13. Gosh, you two never seem to stop - good on you! When we married 31 years ago we promised each other that we'd always have something 'on the go'; now we're starting to slow down and do some travelling. xa

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  14. I envy you your ambitious husband!! Grape jelly and all sounds fantastic!! xo Terri

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  15. fabulous house, AND home made wine - can it get any better than that??!! I think not.

    julesxxx

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  16. Your grapes look amazing! I like the gold label and fuschia and green one best. You can dress up the neck of the bottle if you use the gold label with a jingle bell or two strung from a simple string. Or with the fucshia and green one, adorn the neck with a simple velvet ribbon. Just ideas!

    -Gail

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  17. alot of love goes into what you do... i admire your passion. xx

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  18. Such a great helper your Hubby has! Sounds like some yummy gifts. You friends and family will love it!

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  19. lovely, lovely! so glad Lucy helped!
    i think your gift idea is a great one, and the labels you found are perfect!
    HUGS!!

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  20. those photos are wonderful! I love the labels too. Especially the gold one and the green one. what lovely gifts to give!

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  21. Hi! Die Eitketten sind sehr schön, sicher werden gut zu Eurem gutem Wein passen :) BR from Austria (Weinviertel ;) margaretha

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  22. I love that you grow your own grapes, and what a wonderful thing to make them into a gift you can share with your loved ones. And Lucy... What can I say... She is one special dog. I'm glad you posted the picture of them smiling, btw! Very sweet. :)

    xo,
    -maria

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  23. lovely farmhouse! it exudes warmness and tranquility. glad to stumble on your blog. thanks for sharing your wonderful recounts of your daily reflections. mary ann

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  24. I would love to have grape vines in my yard! How wonderful...what a life you have there~

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  25. I love the lables. I wish I was on your holiday list! That is a wonderful gift idea and so much fun!

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  26. how lovely - my husband would be so jealous of yours. We have two grapevines, and love them. But an orchard is his dream! We do have 500 blueberry bushes, but it's not the same.

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  27. How satisfying it will be to see those bottles and jars of your own special grape concoctions that all "three" of you helped to make. The lucky recipients will be in for a treat!

    We had a beautiful grape vine in our back yard that I just loved, but the racoons and neighborhood boys would always get to those luscious beauties before we could.

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  28. Oh I thought you had Jake Gyllenhaal's twin brother on as a guest Trina. Then I looked again & he's far better looking than Jake baby! Have you thought about throwing some Zinfandel vines in the ground? Recently I came across an image written on a wall behind a stunning drinks trolley loaded with wine bottles, it read - 'Forgive me Lord for I have Zinned.' Too cute. Thank you sweetie for your fab message today, I added a little comment after yours.
    Millie ^_^

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  29. Really a nice blog, with all the nice pictures.:-)
    Stina

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  30. I hope you enjoy your wine making journey! How exciting. Have a great day! http://lafeshiddentreasures.blogspot.com/

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  31. Those grapes look absolutely divine, Trina! Good luck with the harvest.

    Kelly

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  32. Concord grapes are wonderful!!
    We've been growing them for years.
    Had a bumper crop last autumn because of the weather. I've not made wine, but just about everything else. Have a sticky great time!!
    annie

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  33. Absolutely neat! Have you made grapes?

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