The dog days of summer might seem like a sleepy time for vintners as they wait for their grapes to signal harvest. But for Franco, trying to coax the berries to ripeness while protecting them from rival predators, midsummer can make or break a vintage. “People always say to me, ‘Harvest must be busy,’ ” Franco said. “No. Harvest is a load off my shoulders. I’m busy now.” As we spoke, the chimes of the Knight’s Chapel Church of the Brethren, a tiny place of worship on the edge of Barboursville’s vineyards, echoed over the hillsides. Franco looked out over his the planted rows and said, “I love these guys.”