The Vineyard: a Memoir

by Louisa Hargrave

In 1973, against the advice of experts and the experience of history, Louisa Hargrave and her husband, Alex, bought a run-down 1680-vintage potato farm on Long Island’s North Fork and planted ten thousand European wine grapes. Having begun her grape- growing adventure with the arrogance of youth and the assumption that she and her husband could figure it all out themselves, she was both humbled and transformed by the land, by her children, and by the generosity of those who helped along the way. At once wry and heartwarming, this is an odyssey as much about spirit and the connection to place as it is about the simple pleasures of a new wine.

Genres: Nonfiction

272 pages, Paperback

First published April 27, 2004

Reviews

[Naturegirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is near and dear to my heart because it's the memoir of one of the very first local winemakers on Long Island where I grew up. Several years ago, Hargrave Vineyard was sold to the Borghese family from Italy, and I always wondered why they sold and what their story was. I'm so glad I read this book. Louisa writes about how she and Alex met, their family life, and the roundabout way they came to be the first vintners on the East End of Long Island. Parts of the story are very scientific, other parts and nostalgic, and the ending is definitely sad. She and Alex had what seemed to be a charmed life and a wonderful marriage amidst the hard work and toil it took to keep the vineyard going. She did most of the muscle work on the farm while he dealt with accounts, distributors, licenses, and everything else about the business side of keeping the farm running. They had two children, tons of pets, some interesting workers, and wine they could be proud of. The story, this part of it anyway, ends with Alex hitting mid life and telling Louisa he wants a divorce. The vineyard which had become more of a chore than a joy was eventually sold after their marriage ended, thus ending the legacy of Hargrave wines on Long Island. Louisa is still on the East End. The story doesn't go on to tell where Alex ends up, but after reading about and falling in love with the family, I was so sad to see that the whole thing just ended in divorce for no particular reason. I would love to me Louisa on one of my trips home. She seems like an extraordinary woman, the mother of wine on the East End.

[melanie (lit*chick) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked: the day to day operations of a vineyard and all the details, the dealings with the community etc.

Meh: author's account fairly dry,lacked emotion and ended abruptly - but if you don't mind a straightforward "this is how it was" telling, worth a read

[Laura Rose Clawson · Rating 3 out of 5]

too much description, not enough emotion. the ending, especially, was very hollow.