In this episode, Fritz walks through the full planning process for a brand-new vineyard alongside guest Matthieu Wheeler. Matthieu, the winemaker at Cassidy Hill Vineyard in Connecticut and founder of Wheeler Winery, is preparing to establish his own vineyard on a newly purchased property. With Fritz’s guidance, listeners get a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into selecting vineyard sites, designing blocks, and preparing the land for long-term success.

Fritz and Matthieu cover vineyard economics, including the realistic costs of establishing and maintaining vines, equipment investments, and the role of sweat equity. They also explore soil testing, nutrient management, and the importance of addressing amendments before planting.

The conversation digs into key topics such as vineyard orientation, trellis design, row spacing, mechanization potential, and wildlife management. Fritz also emphasizes strategies to minimize risks from frost events, disease pressure, and poor site preparation. Whether you’re a prospective grower or expanding your existing operation, this episode provides guidance and a real-world example of how thoughtful planning lays the groundwork for decades of vineyard success.

In this episode, you will hear:

• The importance of soil testing and incorporating amendments before planting

• Budgeting realistically for vineyard establishment and equipment needs

• Balancing wine program goals with varieties suited to local conditions

• Considering labor, mechanization, and long-term management in vineyard design

• Why starting small and scaling over time helps new growers avoid costly mistakes

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Resources:

If you’re interested in Fritz’s help with getting your vineyard planned and planted, learn more about his Vineyard Establishment Package at VirtualViticultureAcademy.com/GetEstablished. And use the code GetEstablished to save $499 off your purchase of this package as a thank you for being a podcast listener.

If you have questions about today’s episode or ideas for future episodes, go to VineyardUndergroundPodcast.com and click the Ask Fritz button.

Today’s Guest:

Matthieu Wheeler is the winemaker at Cassidy Hill Vineyard and the founder and owner of Wheeler Winery. Connect with Matthieu or learn more about Cassidy Hill Vineyard and Wheeler Winery.

Cassidy Hill Vineyard

Website - https://cassidyhillvineyard.com/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057098184176#

Wheeler Winery

Website - wheelerwinery.com

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wheelerwinery/

Episode Sponsor:

Today’s episode was brought to you by Vigneron Toy Store. Vigneron Toy Store specializes in Harvesters, Sprayers, Frost Mitigation Equipment, Canopy Management Trimmers, and more. As grape growers themselves, they can expertly help you determine the best equipment for your specific vineyard needs. And, as a special offer for our podcast listeners, you can save 5% off in-stock machines by entering the promo code Underground on the contact form at vignerontoystore.com.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. Let them know we sent you.