{"id":3878,"date":"2022-12-27T05:34:04","date_gmt":"2022-12-27T10:34:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/atomic-temporary-212809418.wpcomstaging.com\/?page_id=3878"},"modified":"2025-12-26T10:32:11","modified_gmt":"2025-12-26T15:32:11","slug":"vineyards","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bowenarrowwinery.com\/?page_id=3878","title":{"rendered":"Vineyards"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Vineyards Are Part of Working Farm<\/h2>

Part of the charm of Bowen Arrow Vineyards is that the vineyards are part of a working farm. In addition to growing 4 acres of vinifera grapes, we also grow 36 acres of hay. So, patrons will enjoy not only the scenic beauty of a vineyard but also be exposed to a farm with agricultural history dating back to the mid-1800’s.\u00a0<\/p>

The goal of Bowen Arrow Vineyards is to grow and produce local thereby contributing to the vitality of our community through agri-tourism, agritainment and harvest festivals.<\/p>

\"soybeans
Soybean Harvest TimeFarm and Vineyard<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Chester County is thriving viticultural area<\/h1>

Chester County’s climate of warm summers and cold winters is similar to Europe. The Pennsylvania Winery Association<\/a> estimates that the wine and grape industries in Chester County contribute $69mm in total economic impact, and created 400 jobs and $15.5mm in wages.<\/p>

The geologic topography and soil composition of the Bowen Arrow Vineyards is ideal for growing grapes.\u00a0Soil samples were taken from 12 different sites on the farm and sent to Penn State Extension for a battery of tests. The results were very favorable. The soil is high in pH and organic matter: Perfect for growing European vinifera grapes.\u00a0<\/p>

The\u00a0initial 4-acre vineyard, located at the corner of St. Matthews and Pughtown roads, has a\u00a0southeastern slope which is beneficial for the vines as they receive the morning sunlight and dry faster, thus reducing disease pressure.\u00a0<\/p>

The Penn State extension viticulturist Cain Hickey<\/a> visited the farm and said, \u201cThere is not a bad place to grow grapes on the entire farm.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>

Grape Varieties<\/h2>

In November 2021, John and Debbie Bowen attended a grape and wine industry\u00a0Symposium<\/a> held in State College PA. The symposium was excellent, providing valuable information on climate change and grape varieties that have a proven track record of success in Chester County.<\/p>

The initial 4-acre vineyard was\u00a0planted\u00a0in the spring of 2022 with 3800 vines.\u00a0Dormant vines were purchased from Amberg Grapevines<\/a> and Knight Grapevine Nursery<\/a>. To see what will grow best, nine vinifera varieties were chosen: three white wine varieties (Gew\u00fcrztraminer<\/a>, Riesling<\/a> and Gr\u00fcner Veltliner<\/a>) and six red wine varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon<\/a>, Cabernet Franc<\/a>, Malbec<\/a>, Petit Verdot<\/a>, Zweigelt<\/a> and Blaufr\u00e4nkisch<\/a>). Having nine grape varieties will give winemaker John Bowen many exciting blending opportunities!<\/p>

transformation from Hay Field to vineyard<\/h2>

Deer love the tender shoots of grape vines so a heavy duty 8-foot fence was installed, surrounding the entire 4-acre vineyard.\u00a0Weeds and grass compete with young grape vines for moisture and nutrients so the former hay field had to be transformed into a vineyard.\u00a0<\/p>

This metamorphosis took more than a month, requiring weed management, chisel plowing, discing and packing. Weeds and pasture grass had to be cultivated and cleaned out. The alleys between rows and the headlands had to be de-rocked and smoothed out before planting the low maintenance cover crop.\u00a0The trellising system with wooden end posts and steel line posts is\u00a0Vertical Shoot Position<\/a>, the most\u00a0common trellising for the upward growing vinifera grape vines.<\/p>

grape vines were machine planted<\/h2>

A machine planting crew from the Finger Lakes region was hired to plant the vineyard. Machine planting is more expensive but the resulting straight rows save time and money in vineyard management.<\/p>

The vineyard was planted with 4\u2019 x 9\u2019 spacing meaning the vines were planted 4-feet apart in rows that are 9-feet apart. The self-steering tractor and the rotating wheel of the planting rig are governed by an on-board computer that has dual GPS satellite tracking feeds. The planting rig looked like a modern-day Rube Goldberg contraption<\/a>. See video clip below.<\/p>

Machine Planting Rig Video Clip<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Vineyards Are Part of Working Farm Part of the charm of Bowen Arrow Vineyards is that the vineyards are part of a working farm. In addition to growing 4 acres of vinifera grapes, we also grow 36 acres of hay. So, patrons will enjoy not only the scenic beauty of a vineyard but also be […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":228767890,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3878","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/PeoVrY-10y","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":153,"url":"https:\/\/bowenarrowwinery.com\/","url_meta":{"origin":3878,"position":0},"title":"Home","author":"Bowen Arrow Winery and Vineyards","date":"November 30, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"We\u2019re Open Today! The Bowen Arrow Tasting Room is open today, Sunday, February 22, 2026, from 12\u20134 p.m. Enjoy sweeping views of our 48-acre farm from our cozy garage tasting room, and be among the first to taste releases from the 2025 harvest: Drops of Gold Riesling and Edelweiss Gr\u00fcner\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"Bowen Arrow Hilltop Vineyard View French Creek lower pixel","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bowenarrowwinery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Vineyard-low-pixel.webp?fit=1127%2C381&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bowenarrowwinery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Vineyard-low-pixel.webp?fit=1127%2C381&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bowenarrowwinery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Vineyard-low-pixel.webp?fit=1127%2C381&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bowenarrowwinery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Vineyard-low-pixel.webp?fit=1127%2C381&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bowenarrowwinery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Vineyard-low-pixel.webp?fit=1127%2C381&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5404,"url":"https:\/\/bowenarrowwinery.com\/?page_id=5404","url_meta":{"origin":3878,"position":1},"title":"Video Blog","author":"Bowen Arrow Winery and Vineyards","date":"December 15, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"\/*! elementor - v3.9.2 - 21-12-2022 *\/ .elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}video blog The Video Blog records and documents some of the work performed on the farm and in the vineyard. The farming operations include tedding and bailing hay. The vineyard operations include soil prep, machine planting, and\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":5023,"url":"https:\/\/bowenarrowwinery.com\/?page_id=5023","url_meta":{"origin":3878,"position":2},"title":"Gallery","author":"Bowen Arrow Winery and Vineyards","date":"December 30, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Gallery The Gallery includes dozens of random photos of our farm and vineyard project. Enjoy!","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":3135,"url":"https:\/\/bowenarrowwinery.com\/?page_id=3135","url_meta":{"origin":3878,"position":3},"title":"Farm","author":"Bowen Arrow Winery and Vineyards","date":"December 24, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"West Vincent Farm History The land has been in continuous agricultural use since at least 1864, when Henry Clevenstine first purchased the farm. For the next 125 years, it remained in the Clevenstine family. In 1989, David M. Clevenstine sold most of the farm to Robert Burch, who carefully stewarded\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"west vincent map","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bowenarrowwinery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/West-Vincent-map.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":7572,"url":"https:\/\/bowenarrowwinery.com\/?page_id=7572","url_meta":{"origin":3878,"position":4},"title":"Nature Trail","author":"Bowen Arrow Winery and Vineyards","date":"April 20, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Nature Trail John and Debbie Bowen believe that Bowen Arrow Farm is a local treasure to be preserved and enjoyed by the West Vincent Community. Avid hikers, the Bowen's have created a 1.25-mile Nature Trail around the perimeter of the Farm. The Nature Trail allows hikers to get a close-up\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"Kite Flying at Top of Hill","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bowenarrowwinery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/76edd-kite-flying-at-top-of-hill.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bowenarrowwinery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/76edd-kite-flying-at-top-of-hill.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bowenarrowwinery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/76edd-kite-flying-at-top-of-hill.webp?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bowenarrowwinery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/76edd-kite-flying-at-top-of-hill.webp?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3101,"url":"https:\/\/bowenarrowwinery.com\/?page_id=3101","url_meta":{"origin":3878,"position":5},"title":"Winery","author":"Bowen Arrow Winery and Vineyards","date":"December 24, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"New Phoenixville Winery in the works John and Debbie Bowen believe that a winery should be a place where families and friends can gather to celebrate life\u2019s enjoyable moments. Education from terroir > vine > bottle > tasting notes in the glass will be an integral part of the experience\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bowenarrowwinery.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3878","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bowenarrowwinery.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bowenarrowwinery.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bowenarrowwinery.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/228767890"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bowenarrowwinery.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3878"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/bowenarrowwinery.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3878\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8614,"href":"https:\/\/bowenarrowwinery.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3878\/revisions\/8614"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bowenarrowwinery.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3878"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}