I retired from Wesleyan University in 2007. To keep my biologist wife happy and me from getting underfoot, I began building a small vineyard that year and eventually grew seven types of vinifera and hybrid grapes, bottling from 30 to 60 cases a year — including Riesling, Cabernet franc, and Lemberger. It wasn’t cheap nor easy. Two diesel tractors, a towable sprayer, stainless steel tanks, crusher and destemmer, and a small barn. I learned a lot about fermentation and wine production, fungicides, proper fertilizing and irrigation for Connecticut soil and climate, and we gave away much wine to charities. At 86, my wife and I have cut down and will soon ease out of all the work we have been doing. It’s been educational and has kept us physically and socially active.
I retired from Wesleyan University in 2007. To keep my biologist wife happy and me from getting underfoot, I began building a small vineyard that year and eventually grew seven types of vinifera and hybrid grapes, bottling from 30 to 60 cases a year — including Riesling, Cabernet franc, and Lemberger. It wasn’t cheap nor easy. Two diesel tractors, a towable sprayer, stainless steel tanks, crusher and destemmer, and a small barn. I learned a lot about fermentation and wine production, fungicides, proper fertilizing and irrigation for Connecticut soil and climate, and we gave away much wine to charities. At 86, my wife and I have cut down and will soon ease out of all the work we have been doing. It’s been educational and has kept us physically and socially active.