"I Love Everything That is Old - Old Friends, Old Times, Old Manners, Old Books, Old Wine." - Oliver Goldsmith

Like many a college student, I started off strong with my "homework" and then began to lag a bit.  Please bear with me as I catch back up on my blogging and bring you a quality view of my internship experience.

"I Love Everything That is Old - Old Friends, Old Times, Old Manners, Old Books, Old Wine." 

- Oliver Goldsmith

I chose to use this quote as my title because I do love all these things, but more so because of wine.  Here in the past two weeks especially, I have seen firsthand the growing Virginia wine industry and how Giles will play a part in it.

A beautiful view at Glen Manor

For two days Jeannie and I participated in an in-service training in the Shenandoah Valley on viticulture.  The first day was part of the Virginia Vineyards Association Summer Technical meeting on "Steep Terrain Grape Growing."  After touring Glen Manor Vineyards where we also learned about soil mapping and equipment safety.  We wrapped up the night with a super-fun dinner social at Rappahannock Cellars complete with bluegrass, flat-footin', and of course wine!  The next day we learned about more technical aspects to growing grapes in the Commonwealth.  One of the neatest things we gained for producer members included learning how to evaluate canopy of the vines.  Evaluating the vines can let producers know more accurately how well their crop is doing.

Tony Wolf teaches ANR agents how to do canopy assessment

A few days later back in Giles, I had the opportunity to participate in a joint meeting between the New River Valley Grape Growers and stakeholders of the RFID Grant for tri-counties (which is mentioned in previous blogs).  Not only did I get some great food from The Bank restaurant of Pearisburg, but I became more aware of the current involvement and interest of viticulture in Giles county.  Giles has steep and rocky soils, which at first glance seem to be only good for lumber and some grazing.  Now that the demand for Virginia wines is increasing, yet the current land area dedicated to grape production is stagnant, Giles land can have an alternative use.  Grapes do not need what would be considered fertile soil and must be well drained.  They can also grow at higher elevations.  All of these characteristics describe Giles land.  Giles not only has the land resources for grape production, but the interest to fill the need and also build the community through a value-added agriculture.  During the meeting, it was so exciting to see the future of Virginia agriculture unfold in front of me as producers and state government discussed the opportunities for Giles viticulture.