1998 - OUR FIRST SEASON!! CHRONICLE OF A VINEYARD STARTUP  WINTER AND EARLY SPRING 1998 Site Preparation

Vineyard site, Jan 1998.  Waiting for spring

We chose the vineyard site carefully, studying locations and the soils maps for just the right spot.    We believe we found it.  It slopes the  south and the west allowing for air drainage directly towards Lake Champlain to the west.  The soil is light, with shale and stone content. The grape vines should love it!
	April 1998   Shelburne vineyard is breaking ground. Tom Bushey a local farmer, expertly preparing the land for us.  He first "ripped" deeply and then disked.

57 parallel trenches (1 ft deep) will become 57 rows of grape vines. Photo courtesy Deenie Galipeau