Union Grove Muscadine Vineyard Project

In 2001, Bohlen purchased 10 acres of farmland in Chapel Hill.  Published from an article back in 2021 Greg Bohlen, CEO of Union Grove Farm, and his pursuit of land and sustainable farming practices. Bohlen grew up on a farm in Illinois and learned the value of land from an early age. Union Grove Farm recently acquired 279 acres of Maple View Farm, expanding their total acreage to almost 900. Maple View Farm had decided to stop milk production after 25 years, and Union Grove Farm partnered with Maple View Ice Cream and Country Store to continue providing ice cream and local farm products.

Initially, Bohlen attempted to operate a pick-your-own produce business on 10 acres of farmland but faced difficulties with the soil and abandoned the idea. He then explored truffle farming and experimented with muscadine grapes, eventually deciding to focus on growing eco-friendly grapes. Bohlen’s interest in regenerative farming methods was sparked when he spoke on behalf of Beyond Meat, a plant-based meat company.

Initially unfamiliar with the term “regenerative,” Bohlen attended a conference and learned about its principles, which emphasize sustainable and chemical-free agriculture. Intrigued, he wondered if regenerative farming could be applied to grape cultivation.

In addition to acquiring a significant amount of land, Union Grove Farm had assembled an exceptional group of experts. Among them was Todd Harrington, a soil biologist and consultant specializing in the soil food web. Harrington’s expertise played a crucial role in the farm’s operations. Alongside Harrington, the team also included Martin Compton, a regenerative viticulturist; Dane Jensen, a shepherd, and regenerative farmer; Dr. Laura Kavanaugh, a genomics specialist from Duke University; and Meredith Sabye, who managed communications. However, it was Harrington’s knowledge and guidance on the soil food web that greatly contributed to Union Grove Farm’s success.

2023 Looking ahead, Bohlen’s team has spent three years developing their hybrid muscadine with the desired characteristics. This year, they plan to plant 10,000 vines, and in the following year, they aim to expand to 60,000 vines across two muscadine varieties. Bohlen anticipates that it will take approximately ten years to reach their goal of cultivating grapes on a thousand acres of land.