The Art of Viticulture: What it is, how it works, and why it’s important to agriculture.

art of viticulture

When thinking of Pennslyvania agriculture, local vineyards rarely come to mind. But did you know that PA is one of the nation’s top wine producers? (Not to mention the hundreds of table grapes sold every year!) Viticulture, or grape farming, is an important part of the agricultural community here in Lancaster County. But what makes this farming different from others, and why is it important?

What is Viticulture?

Viticulture is the science of cultivating, growing, and harvesting all kinds of grapes, including table, juice, and wine grapes. Even though they’re both grapes, table grapes, and wine grapes must be grown in different settings with different techniques to make delicious snacks or wines. So, what’s the difference?

Wine grapes are sweeter than table grapes and far more fragile. To regularly handle and transport these fruits without ruining them, viticulturists must have a delicate hand and know their plants well. The mark of a good wine grape is concentrated flavor. To protect the plants, trellises are used to manage the greenery and control the fruits’ exposure to the sun. Additionally, they track vine vigor or vine productivity. Unlike other plants, the lower a vine’s productivity, the better. A low vine vigor means that fewer grapes will be produced, but they will be more concentrated.

Table grapes have thinner skins and thicker pulps to create a good crunch. Farmers are more focused on their appearance when growing these grapes, making them more appealing in grocery stores and markets. To keep these grapes looking good, they are grown on trellises that keep the clusters from rubbing against other clusters or stems. These grapes are grown more frequently in river valleys, as they thrive in soils high in moisture and nutrients.

You can often tell the type of grape that is growing on the farm based on the trellis system: wine grapes are typically grown on simple, horizontal trellises, while table grapes are often grown on trellises that are Y-shaped, allowing grapes to hang freely.

Viticulture in PA

Without viticulture, we wouldn’t have grapes for snacking, juice, or wine! These experts spend years perfecting different techniques for differing grape types so that we can enjoy grapes on our lunch breaks and wine on the weekends!

As of 2023, Pennsylvania was ranked fourth in the nation for wine production alone. Many hybrid grapes thrive in a climate that changes with the seasons, making PA the perfect place for experimentation. There are more than 14,000 acres of some of the East Coast’s most fertile grape-growing land in Pennsylvania, and visitors are never more than an hour away from a local winery. The state has more than 350 wineries, most of which are small, family-owned establishments.

We appreciate all our local farmers and how they feed our communities! Be sure to check out Lancaster’s numerous farm stands and wineries to support our viticulturists and their hard work. Here in Lancaster County, we’re lucky to have productive farmland, making fresh farm-to-table cuisine accessible to locals and visitors alike! If you’re interested in learning about other types of farming, click here to check out some of our other blog articles. Ready to check out some of our local wineries? Here are a few to get you started:

Nissley Vineyard: 140 Vintage Dr, Bainbridge, PA 17502

Mt. Hope Wine Gallery: 3174 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bird in Hand, PA 17505

Grandview Vineyard: 1489 Grandview Rd, Mount Joy, PA 17552

Waltz Vineyard Estate Winery: 1599 Old Line Rd, Manheim, PA 17545

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