Sept. 24, 2007

FREDERICKSBURG – Texas Cooperative Extension will present its first-ever Prospective Grower Workshop on Oct. 16 for those interested in planting a commercial vineyard in the Hill Country.

The workshop will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Extension office for Gillespie County, located at 95 Frederick Rd. in Fredericksburg.

"This workshop will cover a range of topics about vineyards and will address the various challenges, pitfalls and rewards of commercial wine-grape production in the Texas Hill Country," said Penny Adams, Extension viticulture advisor and workshop speaker.

Workshop topics will include essential viticulture knowledge, viticulture risk factors, vineyard location considerations, labor requirements and the economics of vineyard establishment.

"The workshop is probably the best one-day snapshot of the pros and cons of Hill Country grape growing anyone can get," said Jim Kamas, Extension fruit specialist and another workshop presenter. "It's designed for those who are past initial exploration of establishing a commercial vineyard and want more details about where to plant and the possible pitfalls of operating one."

The cost for the workshop is $100.

There will be a lunch break from noon to 1 p.m., but participants will have to make their own lunch arrangements. Attendees are asked to register on or before Oct. 15.

For more information or to register, contact Becky Mazurek at 830-997-7047,bmazurek@ag.tamu.edu .