'grape-growing' is a compound formed from the noun 'grape' + the present participle 'growing' (from the verb 'grow'), literally meaning 'growing (cultivation) of grapes.'

'grape' comes into English via Old French (e.g. 'grape', 'grappe') referring to a bunch or cluster of fruit and later the fruit itself; 'grow' comes from Old English 'grōwan' (Proto-Germanic *growan) meaning 'to increase, become green or to grow.' The compound 'grape-growing' is a modern English formation combining these elements to describe cultivation.

Initially 'grow' simply meant 'to increase or develop' and 'grape' originally emphasized the cluster; over time the compound came to denote specifically the agricultural practice of cultivating grapes (viticulture).