Hobby Viticulture – Cultivation, Care, Winemaking:

The Practical Guide from an Expert

Even outside traditional wine-growing regions, the number of hobby gardeners growing grapes on trellises at home or in their gardens is increasing. On the one hand for aesthetic reasons, on the other because, as wine lovers, they want to enjoy and produce their own homegrown wine. For this purpose, they now have an up-to-date and practice-oriented manual for hobby viticulture, in which all practical aspects are described in detail—from planting the vine to winemaking—and all necessary background information is provided.

After an introduction to the history of viticulture, the reader is given a detailed explanation of the structure and physiology of the vine, followed by a clear and comprehensible guide to home viticulture: prerequisites, planting, possible cultivation and training methods. Especially helpful is a proper guide for the hobby winemaker on pruning, annual maintenance work, required equipment and tools, and plant protection. The essential diseases and their causes or pathogens are presented. Numerous illustrations enhance the text.
From harvesting the grapes, analyzing the must, understanding the ingredients, to practical instructions for making white, rosé, and red wines, including fermentation and wine maturation, the book guides the hobby winemaker through to bottling and tasting. It also provides information on wine faults and diseases, and instructions on how to evaluate grape juices and wines. An appendix of additional literature and a comprehensive index enable quick answers to any questions that may arise.

About the Author

The author, biologist Dr. Harald Bocker, is an experienced expert who has worked for many years on issues related to viticulture and winemaking. For over four decades, he served first at the Academy of Agricultural Sciences, later at the Academy of Sciences in microbiology and biotechnology. He was also a permanent advisor to wine-producing businesses in the Saale-Unstrut region and a member of key scientific committees on viticulture, wine industry, and technical microbiology in today’s new German states. He has extensive experience in education, including the training of beverage engineers. As an author, he has already published several successful books on viticulture, wine culture, and biotechnological topics such as antibiotics.

Book Information:

Paperback: 174 pages
Over 60 illustrations, color plates, tables
Author: Harald Bocker
Publisher: EchinoMedia; Edition: 4th revised edition (April 2011)
Language: German
ISBN-10: 3980762963
ISBN-13: 978-3980762960
Dimensions and/or weight: 20.8 x 14.8 x 1.2 cm