AN UNLIKELY VINEYARD:
The Education of a Farmer and Her Quest for Terroir
from the book cover:
Is it possible to capture landscape in a bottle? To express the essence of place—the geology, geography, climate, and soil—as well as the skill of the winegrower? That’s exactly what Deirdre Heekin and her husband set out to do on their tiny, eight-acre hillside farm in south-central Vermont. Challenged by cold winters, wet summers, and other factors, they set about to grow not only a vineyard, but an orchard of heirloom apples, pears, and plums, as well as gardens filled with vegetables, herbs, roses, and wildflowers destined for their own table and for the kitchen of their small restaurant. They wanted to create, or rediscover, a sense of place, and to grow food naturally, using the philosophy and techniques of organics, permaculture, and biodynamic farming. Having traveled and lived in Italy, and finding so much respect for place-based traditions, they were sure it would be possible to recreate that lifestyle, and to explore “the notion that life can be lived in both work and play, in a way that offers an honest sustenance.”
An Unlikely Vineyard tells the story of their farm and its evolution, from overgrown fields to a fertile, productive, and beautiful landscape that melds with its natural environment. But the book is much more than that. It also presents, through the example of their farming journey and wine-growing endeavors, an impressive amount of information on how to think about almost every aspect of gardening: from composting to trellising; from cider and perry making to old garden roses; from pruning (or not) to dealing naturally with pests and diseases. Accompanied throughout by lush photos, this gentle narrative will appeal to anyone who loves food, farms, and living well.
“Deirdre Heekin has written a colossal book here—something of a monument in its field. The author tells, in her earnest way, the entire story of establishing a biodynamic farm and orchard and garden and vineyard, under improbable circumstances. An Unlikely Vineyard speaks to a determination and passion fueled by Deirdre’s wonderful, stubborn love. The sheer level of detail may intimidate some casual readers, yet those who do read it will surely concur that it's going to become one of the Great Books of the movement.”
Terry Theise, author, Reading Between the Vines
"I won't mince words about An Unlikely Vineyard: The Education of a Farmer and Her Quest for Terroir, Deirdre Heekin's chronicle of establishing a a farm and vineyard in Vermont. I love this book, which conveys beautifully why the best wine is, at heart, an agricultural expression... This book is not solely about grape-growing. Ms. Heekin places wine in the context of a diverse farm, an alternative to the agricultural and critical view of wine as a monoculture. In the end, she writes what's most important is "the shared experience around the table that is defined by the culture of food, wine, friendship, ideas, and heart. "If you can find her soulful wine, produced in tiny quantities and labeled La Garagista, it resonates with every sentiment in the book."
Eric Asimov, The New York Times
An Unlikely Vineyard is available to purchase from Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and Chelsea Green. We also sell copies in our Barnard and West Addison locations. You can always ask your local bookstore!