What is the life expectancy of a grapevine?

It depends upon the variety, but usually between 50 to 70 years.

Once the grapevines are planted how long does it take to yield grapes?

Generally three years. Some varieties of grapes produce in two years. George Spencer Vineyard has harvested award winning wines from two year old Brianna and Seyval grapes.

How many pounds of grapes does it take to make wine?

Ten to fifteen pounds of grapes will make one gallon of wine depending upon the grape variety.

Once the grapes are picked how long does it take to make the wine?

• Edleweiss is picked in early August and the wine is generally bottled in December.
• Brianna is also picked in early August and bottled in November.
• Traminette and Seyval Blanc are picked in September and the bottle time will vary from February to late spring depending if the wine is aged in oak.

What happens to the cuttings when you prune?

Generally we burn them, however they occasionally are sent to Turnball Nursery in New York and/or Penoak, Iowa, to propagate. In 2003 Bob Turnball, of the Turnball Nursery in New York, began driving out and taking our Brianna cuttings in exchange for wonderful bare root nursery plants. Since Brianna is a new breed of grape this is a way to distribute it across the United States.

What is the watering system like?

It is an underground watering system, twelve inches on each side of the grapevines. We water May through August.

How many pickers does it take to harvest?

110 pickers harvested the Edelweiss and Brianna grapes in 2004 in 4 hours. The refrigerated truck is loaded quickly so the grapes arrive in Pierce, NE in the best possible condition.

How much do you pay pickers?

10¢ per pound of grapes picked.