From our original 14 rows of vines, O'Farrell Country Vineyards has grown to include about 70 rows and 600 plants. One thing is unchanged: All 14 varieties we grow are muscadines, cultivars developed over more than 100 years from this grape species native to North America. Our vineyard includes multiple varieties of both black and bronze muscadines.
Both Spanish and English explorers wrote about wild muscadine vines they found in North America as early as the 1500s, and it is the oldest wine grape in the New World. We're proud to make a truly American wine from the descendants of those native American vines.
Our primary wine grape varieties are Noble and Carlos. But, depending on the wine, our co-owner and winemaker Judy uses several others, such as Magnolia and Hunt.
As the grapes ripen in mid-to late August, we offer a chance for you to pick your own from a dozen or so varieties. The sweet globes can be refreshing snacks straight from the vine, or you can make excellent wine, jelly, pie or other treats with them. A quick online search can yield hundreds of ideas. People from as far away as Houston and Dallas come each year, including many families who immediately head for their favorite rows. Check www.facebook.com/ofarrellvineyard, and we'll let you know when the grapes are ready and give you our special hours for U-Pick season.
John 15:5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit..."
