GrapeGrowingGuide is an independent, research-based guide to growing grapes and making wine at home. It is written for backyard growers in every zone, with extra depth for cold climates (USDA Zones 3 to 6), where most grape advice simply does not apply.
Who writes it
Articles are written and maintained by the GrapeGrowingGuide editors. We are researchers and editors, not commercial growers: we don’t run a vineyard, and we won’t pretend to. Our job is to gather what the people who do this for a living have published and turn it into clear, practical steps you can follow in your own backyard.
How we research
- Primary sources first. Our guides are built on university extension services and breeding programs, such as the University of Minnesota grape breeding and enology program, Cornell, Iowa State, the University of Wisconsin, Penn State, UC IPM, and the multi-state Northern Grapes Project, along with breeders and growers’ associations.
- Sources are linked. Where a number or recommendation matters, we cite who it came from so you can check it and dig deeper.
- Cross-checked numbers. Hardiness ratings, ripening windows, sugar and acid targets are compared across sources. Where sources disagree, we say so instead of picking the most convenient figure.
- Separate fact-check. Every guide goes through an independent fact-check pass before it is published, and is updated when better information comes along.
- No invented experience. We don’t publish made-up anecdotes, fake test results or fake reviews. When we recommend something, we explain why, based on the sources and the product’s specifications.
Why cold climates get extra attention
Almost every grape-growing guide is written for warm places: California, the South, the Mediterranean. They’ll tell you to plant Cabernet and never mention it would be dead by February in Minnesota. The cold-hardy hybrids (Marquette, Frontenac, La Crescent, Petite Pearl and others) changed what is possible in the north, and the research behind them deserves a clear, practical home. That is the gap this site tries to fill.
Growers: help us review
If you grow grapes in a cold climate and would like to review one of our variety or growing guides, we’d love to hear from you. Where a working grower has reviewed a page, we will name them on it. Write to [email protected].
How the site is funded
GrapeGrowingGuide is free to read. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, and some links to other retailers are affiliate links too. That never costs you extra. We pick products based on the sources and specifications, not on commission, and we link to the retailer for live prices and reviews rather than printing numbers that go stale.
Corrections and safety
Spot an error? Email [email protected] and we’ll check it and fix it. For anything safety-critical, such as sprays, chemicals, or food and wine sanitation, always follow the product label and your local extension office. They are the final word.
