Reddit reviews The Organic Backyard Vineyard: A Step-by-Step Guide to Growing Your Own Grapes
We found 2 Reddit comments about The Organic Backyard Vineyard: A Step-by-Step Guide to Growing Your Own Grapes. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
If you want to get serious about home wine making, I'd recommend picking up a couple books.
http://www.amazon.com/From-Vines-Wines-Complete-Growing/dp/1580171052
http://www.amazon.com/Organic-Backyard-Vineyard-Step-Step/dp/1604692855
I haven't started any vines yet, but when I buy a property this fall I hope to. These books are fantastic.
To answer your question about pruning, by removing fruit and shoots back to the buds, you're allowing the vine to focus it's energy into developing a strong root system. There are many methods of doing this. Here is one, but different varietals have different preferred methods.
https://urbanwinegrower.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/three-yr-captioned-prune.jpg
Hah, that is fortuitous. That being said, I wouldn't exactly call myself a winemaker yet. I am like you in that regard! I just said wth and planted a bunch of grapes because I like wine and am just hoping that I can get a drinkable product!
The best piece of advice I can give you is to read. I have done a lot of that lately. My favorite three books on the subject are:
https://www.amazon.com/Vines-Wines-5th-Complete-Growing/dp/1612124380/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1495465433&sr=8-1&keywords=from+vines+to+wines
https://www.amazon.com/Organic-Backyard-Vineyard-Step-Step/dp/1604692855/ref=pd_bxgy_14_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1604692855&pd_rd_r=GGTRVNRET3ZF1BVFRGQH&pd_rd_w=mHT9B&pd_rd_wg=NG0Ym&psc=1&refRID=GGTRVNRET3ZF1BVFRGQH
https://www.amazon.com/Homebuilt-Winery-Projects-Winemaking-Equipment/dp/1603429905/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1603429905&pd_rd_r=VJW281V3B49SSHRVTPND&pd_rd_w=5ERKw&pd_rd_wg=makHZ&psc=1&refRID=VJW281V3B49SSHRVTPND
I know that you can source grapes/grape juice from various places on the internet. I cannot speak to their quality. You might even be able to find someone in Texas who is growing and might sell you some. My guess is it is going to be the hot varietals down there! Given your background, I think you should figure it out in no time!