Growing Grapes Might Be Fun

Growing Grapes Might be Fun

by Deirdre Macken
Setting: Australia
Genres: Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs
Published on April 4, 2023
Pages: 304
Format: Paperback Source: Owned

An honest, very funny account of a couple's move to the country for a fresh start. Bursting with optimism and a can-do attitude, they're on a steep learning curve as they establish a vineyard and learn how things are done in the country.

I imagined lounging on a veranda overlooking folds of hills striped with vines. I'd be clothed in linen and surrounded by friends. On the table would be tumblers of wine we'd picked in last year's harvest. Then we arrived at Cockatoo Hill and discovered a dump.

When Deirdre and her husband Roger decide to turn a sheep paddock into a vineyard, they are following the centuries-old tradition of family winemaking. Bit by bit they clean up the land, plant vines, protect them through storms and drought and turn a shack into a cottage. Slowly they start to read the landscape, appreciate the talents of locals and learn what to do when a snake passes by.

This is a humorous memoir with larger-than-life characters, hard slog and sweet triumph. It is also a story of a deepening awareness of our connection with the land and the rhythms of farming life.

'Deirdre Macken's memoir is more than a lively account of turning unpromising, trash-strewn hectares into a productive vineyard. It's a reflection on family, community and the rewards of caring for the land that sustains us.'

This book checked two boxes for me. It is a Foodies Read book and it is set in Australia!

It is a little different than I expecting from the blurb. It is more of a series of essays than a traditional memoir. They also aren’t total newbies who just bought some land. Deirdre’s mother owns several farms in the area and decided that her newly retired daughter and son-in-law should turn this one into a vineyard.

It is more of a hobby than a farm that needs to be profitable. That takes a lot of the pressure off. It does add a different level of tension with their neighbors. Deirdre’s mom is a local but Deirdre and her husband are city people who pop in occasionally to putter about a farm that doesn’t really matter. Until they get stuck there during COVID they haven’t even taken the initiative to meet their neighbors. I don’t know that these are people I’d get on with. Her mom, Ann, sounds fascinating though. She’s an elderly lady now and just keeps starting businesses. I think it was funny that she gave her (fairly useless?) retirement age child a make-work job.

The details of what it takes to start a vineyard on an abandoned property was interesting. Australia isn’t really conducive to farming from the sounds of it. There wasn’t much deep discussion of that besides being concerned about there not being enough rain. How does colonialism factor into the fact that there are these sheep ranches in that area? I don’t know enough Australian history to get into that. But I kept thinking, “So the land was stolen and then just trashed?” as they talked about trying to fix it up. Not that we have any room to be judgy as Americans but still.

The husband is also enjoying this one and bought a copy to pass on. We’re our own book club around here.