Muscadine conference set for July 9 at UGA
By Sharon Dowdy for CAES News
Producers and those interested in muscadine grape production are invited to the University of Georgia Summer Muscadine Conference on Tuesday, July 9, at the university’s South Milledge Greenhouse Complex on Milledge Avenue in Athens.
Presentations will be made by UGA specialists and members of the Georgia muscadine industry at the conference, which is sponsored by UGA Cooperative Extension, Ison’s Nursery and Vineyard, and SNA Manufacturing.
UGA Professor Patrick Conner of the UGA muscadine breeding program will discuss self-fertile, fresh market muscadine cultivars.
Cain Hickey, UGA Extension viticulture specialist, will lead a session on how to start a muscadine vineyard.
Charles and Deborah Tillman of Watermelon Creek Vineyard will share their experience on starting, owning and operating a small muscadine vineyard and farm winery.
Greg Ison of Ison’s Nursery and Vineyard will discuss how to manage crop loads and trends in muscadine cultivar purchases.
Simone Bergese of Chateau Elan Winery will tell participants about the versatility of making wine from muscadines.
Matt Johnson of Wolf Creek Plantation Vineyards and Winery will share his knowledge of winemaking with unconventional muscadine cultivars.
The conference also includes a tour of the newly planted ‘Carlos’ and ‘Paulk’ muscadine research vineyard at UGA’s Durham Horticulture Farm, a 15-minute drive from the greenhouse complex.
The conference will begin at 9:30 a.m. and conclude after the 3 p.m. vineyard tour. Registration is $35 per person, which includes lunch. Pre-registration is required at http://attend.com/muscadine2019.