Yoakum vineyard opens gates for community harvest

Visitors invited to pick grapes at $1 per gallon

  • Bruce and Angela McConnell inspect clusters of grapes at Loose Grapes Vineyard in Yoakum Friday, July 22.
    Bruce and Angela McConnell inspect clusters of grapes at Loose Grapes Vineyard in Yoakum Friday, July 22.
  • Loose Grapes Vineyard is located at 991 County Road 317 in Yoakum.
    Loose Grapes Vineyard is located at 991 County Road 317 in Yoakum.
  • Bruce and Angela McConnel pose in front of the vineyard on their family ranch Friday July 22.
    Bruce and Angela McConnel pose in front of the vineyard on their family ranch Friday July 22.
  • Black Spanish grapes grow on two acres at Loose Grapes Vineyard in Yoakum.
    Black Spanish grapes grow on two acres at Loose Grapes Vineyard in Yoakum.
  • Bruce McConnell harvests grapes from the vineyard on his family ranch.
    Bruce McConnell harvests grapes from the vineyard on his family ranch.
  • Loose Grapes Vineyard is expected to produce 6,000 pounds of grapes this year.
    Loose Grapes Vineyard is expected to produce 6,000 pounds of grapes this year.

    Yoakum’s only vineyard will open its gates for visitors to pick locally grown grapes for only $1 per gallon from July 29 through Aug. 7.

     

    After a potential buyer pulled out of a deal to purchase the Black Spanish grapes, Bruce and Angela McConnell opted to welcome community members onto their family ranch at 991 County Road 317 in Yoakum. 

     

    The vineyard houses 750 plants that produce approximately 6,000 pounds of fruit annually, though this year marks the first opportunity for community members to pick the locally produced grapes.

     

    “We’re just going to be here, and we’ll welcome anybody who comes,” said Angela. “Just come out to enjoy the day and be on the farm.”

     

    The vineyards will be open for picking from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. until dark. The McConnells plan to provide tools and buckets for guests as available and estimate five gallons of grapes take only 15 to 20 minutes to harvest. Guests are encouraged to bring water, hats, boots, gloves, long socks and sunscreen for those who plan to pick for a while. 

     

    “It is (family friendly) if you get done before noon – before it gets hot,” said Bruce of the harvesting process. “Our vineyard is small enough to where I go through all the vines and clip off some of the leaves to make the grapes more exposed and make sure there aren’t any wasps in there or anything like that.”

     

    The Black Spanish grape is a variety native to Texas known for a sweet flavor perfect for snacking and producing wine, juice, and jelly.  

     

    While the McConnells found wineries to buy their grapes yearly since they began growing them in 2017, complications left over from the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted demand this year. 

     

    “This is the first year we’re not selling to a winery because some of them still have inventory from COVID, and now they’re saying because of the price of fuel, people from Houston, San Antonio (and other) big cities aren’t making the trip,” said Bruce. 

     

    The couple said they were excited to meet visitors who make the drive out to their ranch. They agreed on the low price of $1 for each gallon picked in part because any grapes remaining after the community harvest would go to waste.

     

    They said the vineyard is a passion project rather than a crucial source of income, and they plan to continue producing grapes next year despite the inability to find a buyer.