Wes Hagen

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Evaluating Young Wines

During a relatively slow period in the vineyard, now is a perfect time to start planning for the upcoming growing season. Tasting wines from

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Vintage Postmortem

With harvest behind us and our wines safely fermenting or in bulk storage, it’s time to reflect on the past year’s struggles and triumph

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Vineyard Canopy Management

Summer in the vineyard means it is time to manage your vines’ canopy. Spraying, suckering, leaf removal, adjusting lateral shoots, and eve

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Pruning and Spring Care

After harvest is over may seem like a great time for the home viticulturist to sit back and take a deep breath. Just don’t take too long o

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Fall/Winter Tips in the Vineyard

Fall is the most critical time in the vineyard. Preparing for and executing harvest are paramount. So is the cleanup and vineyard care after

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Master the Backyard Harvest

Wes Hagen lays out last-minute advice to maximize this make-or-break day as home viticulturists gear up for harvest.

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Summer Care in the Vineyard

The summer is a critical time in the home vineyard. Wes Hagen shares the physiological needs of mature vines in the summer and lays out a sc

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Winter Chills

When a harsh cold snap occurs in the middle of winter, there is little a grape grower can do in the moment . . . it’s all about being prep

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Irrigation systems and strategies

Not all wine grape growers need to irrigate, but for those that do there are options available. Get a primer on what those strategies look l

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Water Works: Assessing irrigation needs

Not every location needs to irrigate their vines every year, but for those that do, advanced planning is key. Here is a walk through the fa

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Live Chat with Wes Hagen

Live Chat with Wes Hagen that took place on April 26, 2023.

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Craft Beer-Influenced Winemaking

A trend has emerged from the world of craft beer as some notable brewers have begun releasing wines. What sets these wines apart is an unusu

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Viticulture Tips

The 2023 growing season is just around the corner and it’s time to think about ways to improve your viticultural practices. Here are 10 ti

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Trellising And Choosing Vines: Designing a modern backyard vineyard

Once you have your site selected, soil figured out, as well as irrigation; it’s time to start planning things like row and vine spacing, w

Technique

Site Planning and Prep: Designing a modern backyard vineyard

For anyone who plans on creating a small-to-moderate-sized backyard vineyard, this column should be mandatory reading. Because the best advi

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Live Chat with Wes Hagen

Live chat with Wes Hagen, which took place April 25, 2022.

Technique

Dear Wes: A new vintage of backyard Q&As

The reader letters have been piling up, so Wes decides it’s come that time again to pick up the pen and share some of the most useful ques

Technique

Making Lemonade: Vineyard fixes for underwhelming grapes

Not every harvest is going to be perfect. When the grapes come in at less than ideal numbers or with other “flaws,” make sure you’re w

Technique

Dear Wes: I asked for questions and you listened!

Two attendees of the Backyard Grape Growing Online Boot Camp had some follow-up questions; one on their spray protocol, the other about com

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Live Chat with Wes Hagen

Video Live Chat with Wes Hagen, which took place on April 22, 2021.

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Best Practices: Mythic vines make for mythic wines

Have you ever visited a vineyard and wondered, “How did they do that?!” You know the place, where all the vines seem to be in sync and h

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Red Wine Fermentation Considerations

Technique

The Top Twelve Tips: Bringing the fruit in right

The final days leading up to your grape harvest can be anxiety-ridden for most hobbyists . . . and even for professionals. Get pointers on h

Technique

Dirt Don’t Lie: The impact of soil on vineyards and wine

Determining your soil type can tell anyone growing grapes a lot about the conditions under which your vine’s root system will develop and

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Live Chat with Wes Hagen

Live Chat with Wes Hagen, which took place on April 15, 2020.