Don can view the vineyard from his house. Don designed his vineyard's watering system. Through much hard work, Don, now retired, converted a barren hillside into a vineyard featuring 55 grapevines in nine varieties, including Chenin Blanc. He built the trellises and designed the watering system himself. Grapes require intensive maintenance at certain times of year.
Harvest time depends on the grapes' sugar content.
The key to successful wine making, Don says, is having the right kind of weather, although grapes will grow in any type of soil and almost any climate. To get started in this hobby, join a club, read books and contact nearby universities. His vineyard is patterned after the book's instructions. Don has his own small winery too. The wine-making process begins with the manually operated combination crusher and destemmer in his basement.