More and more folks are being drawn by the allure and romance of growing wine grapes. But before getting involved, it pays to do your homework on this intensive enterprise.

Fran Pontasch, North Texas viticulture adviser for Texas AgriLife Extension Service, announced a July 22 workshop in Stephenville, designed for persons thinking about, or already are growing, wine grapes. Pontasch serves the North Texas area, which includes Tyler, and will be conducting the workshop at the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Stephenville from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on July 22. The program will present “the basic know-how of commercial wine-grape production
as well as some of the economics associated with a owning and operating
a commercial vineyard.” Some of the topics addressed at the
workshop will include site selection, risk factors, vineyard labor and
operational costs.The fee is $100 and includes lunch, beverages and study materials. Pre-registration is required to ensure space
and to get an accurate lunch count.

For more information, contact Pontasch at 254-968-4144 or fmpontasch@ag.tamu.edu or see the news release at: AgNews