My mother gifted me 6 grape vines when we first built our home. I long ago lost the "key" to the varieties, although my guess is they are all fairly common (she likely bought them from a big box nursery). The main trunks are getting pretty hefty, and I still am rather clueless about the best method of pruning. Some years I prune back really hard; other years I barely touch them. Some years the birds eat all the fruit; other years it's the bees, and still others I get a good harvest myself. I treat the grapes as an architectural feature rather than as a crop. We have twice had to rebuild the trellis, both times from having mature evergreens blow down on it. Despite being totally laid out, the grape vines themselves have weathered through wonderfully. Very hardy and long-lived plant. An added bonus - the supple prunings are a great source for wreaths or other crafts.

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