How to Grow Pommard Grape

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Pommard Grape

Vitis vinifera 'Pommard'

vine

Pommard is a premium wine grape variety renowned for producing bold, full-bodied red wines with deep color and aging potential. This French Pinot Noir clone originated in the Burgundy region and is characterized by small, dark berries with thick skins. It is prized by winemakers for its concentration, structure, and ability to express terroir.

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Example Pommard Grape timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

Plant Pommard Grape
Around Apr 17

Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
Tend & protect
Late spring–summer

Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
Harvest Pommard Grape
Late summer into fall

Before the first fall frost (≈ Nov 8)

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Pommard Grape dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

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Sun: Full sun, 8+ hours daily; needs maximum sunlight exposure for proper ripening and sugar development

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Water: Moderate watering; deep but infrequent irrigation. Drought-tolerant once established. Avoid excessive moisture to prevent disease; requires approximately 15-20 inches of water annually from rain and irrigation combined

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Spacing: 48 inches

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Days to maturity: 180-210 days from bloom to harvest (approximately 5-6 months)

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Planting depth: Plant grafted vines at soil level with the graft union 1-2 inches above ground to prevent phylloxera

Soil

Type: Well-draining, slightly alkaline to neutral soil; gravelly or rocky loam preferred for quality wine production

pH: 6.5-7.5

Amendments:

Organic compost Aged manure Lime (if soil is acidic) Rock phosphate for potassium and minerals

Growing Zones

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Thrives in zones 6b-8b; requires cool to moderate climates with defined seasons for optimal ripening and wine quality

6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a

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Growth Stages

Dormancy & Bud Break

3-4 weeks from bud break

Bare canes in winter rest; buds swell and break in spring with emergence of new shoots and leaves

Prune canes to desired training system in late winter. Remove winter damage. Apply dormant oil spray if needed for pest management

Vegetative Growth

6-8 weeks

Vigorous shoot growth with expanding green foliage, climbing and spreading along trellises or support structures

Train shoots to trellis system. Remove excess leaf growth to manage canopy. Water regularly. Monitor for pests and diseases. Apply sulfur for powdery mildew prevention

Flowering & Fruit Set

2-3 weeks

Small, inconspicuous green flowers appear in clusters; flowers self-pollinate and develop into tiny green berries

Maintain consistent watering; stress during flowering reduces berry set. Avoid heavy nitrogen fertilization. Thin excess clusters if desired for larger berries and concentration. Monitor for frost damage

Véraison & Ripening

4-6 weeks

Berries change color from green to deep purple-black; sugar content increases, acidity decreases, and flavors develop

Reduce watering to stress vines slightly and concentrate flavors. Remove excessive leaves to expose fruit to sun. Monitor Brix (sugar levels) regularly. Control pests and powdery mildew. Begin harvest monitoring

Harvest

1-3 weeks (staggered picking possible)

Fully ripe, dark purple-black berries with optimal sugar (22-25° Brix) and phenolic maturity for winemaking

Hand-harvest in early morning when berries are cool. Use clean equipment. Assess ripeness by taste, color, and sugar levels. Deliver promptly to winery or process immediately

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Borage Chamomile Garlic Buckwheat Clover Nitrogen-fixing cover crops

Avoid planting near:

Black walnut Fennel Cabbage family plants Other susceptible rootstock varieties without phylloxera resistance

Common Pests

Apply sulfur sprays starting at bud break and throughout growing season. Improve air circulation by pruning. Remove affected leaves. Use fungicides like myclobutanil if needed
Apply copper-based fungicides preventively. Ensure good canopy airflow. Avoid overhead watering. Use sulfur alternately with copper to reduce resistance
Use grafted vines on phylloxera-resistant rootstock (essential in most regions). Monitor root health. Remove infected vines immediately
Hand-pick early morning. Use pheromone traps away from vineyard. Apply neem oil or spinosad. Use kaolin clay for leaf protection
Spray forcefully with water to dislodge. Apply sulfur or miticides. Encourage beneficial mites through biodiversity. Monitor undersides of leaves
Remove diseased berries immediately. Thin clusters to improve air circulation. Spray with sulfur or other fungicides. Manage humidity through canopy pruning

Uses

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Premium Red Wine Production

Culinary

Pommard is a world-class wine grape used to produce elegant, age-worthy Burgundy-style red wines with notes of dark cherry, plum, and earthy minerals. The wines are known for their depth, complexity, structure, and ability to improve over decades of proper cellaring. [source]

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Juice & Fresh Consumption

Culinary

High-quality fresh grape juice can be made from Pommard berries, offering a rich, concentrated flavor profile. The juice is suitable for health-conscious consumers or as a base for other grape products. [source]

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Home Winemaking & Fermentation

Household

Home winemakers prize Pommard for crafting small-batch wines that showcase terroir and personal winemaking philosophy. The variety's balance of sugars, acids, and tannins makes it ideal for experimenting with different fermentation techniques. [source]

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Bird & Pollinator Habitat

Wildlife

Established vineyards provide food sources for birds and beneficial insects through flowers and fruit. The flowering stage supports pollinators, while ripening fruit attracts wildlife. [source]

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Antioxidant & Resveratrol Content

Medicinal

Red wine grapes like Pommard contain resveratrol and other polyphenol antioxidants, especially in the skins. These compounds have been studied for cardiovascular health benefits. [source]

This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.

Harvest Tips

Harvest when berries reach 22-25° Brix (sugar content) with full phenolic ripeness—typically late September to early October in Northern Hemisphere. Hand-harvest to preserve fruit integrity. Taste berries for optimal ripeness. Harvest in cool morning hours. Deliver to winery or fermentation vessel within hours for maximum freshness. Keep detailed records of harvest date, sugar levels, and conditions for consistency

Fun Facts

🌱 Pommard is one of the most prestigious wine appellations in Burgundy, France, known for producing wines of exceptional quality and aging potential that can command high prices at auction.
🌱 This clone was historically selected and propagated in the Pommard vineyard region based on its superior concentration, color extraction, and ability to produce wines worthy of the Pommard name.
🌱 Pommard vines typically produce smaller crops than many other Pinot Noir clones, concentrating flavors and resulting in more intense, complex wines—a quality highly prized by traditional Burgundy producers.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Annual Full Sun pH Trellis

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