Septembers Top 5 Wine Making Tips
September 3, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
Apoliges that the site has been a little quiet - its been that holiday time of year, which was actualyl a good thing, as both batches of wine needed time to finish fermenting. I’ll update on the progress of the white wine and the red wine in klater posts.
This post is the first of a monthly regular feature - Top 5 tips!!!
So i’m no expert at making wine, but I have already discovered a few fundamental things which will help make sure your winer making goes without a hitch :
Tip 1 - ALWAYS sterilise and clean all your equipment before use! It may seem boring, and you may not be able to spot any dirt, but believe me, them pesky little bacteria’s are lurking there and they will cause your pride and joy batch of wine to be rendered useless and tasting horrible! Just do it and rest safe in the knowledge that you’re using clean wine making equipment.
Tip 2 - ALWAYS read the instructions through, and then read each step through prior to actioning it! Even for the more experienced wine makers, I guess this would be a good tip!! Not all wine has the same process - it may be similar, but they can differ!!
Tip 3 - ALWAYS plan your batches of wine! Especially if you intend to do this on a constant basis! I have started to keep a diary and calendar of my wine, so I know when I can realistically start a new batch, when i need which equipment for which batch…and of course when I can organise a party!!
Tip 4 - ALWAYS reuse your bottles! I thought wine bottles would be 10 a penny, but they do actually cost money, so when you’ve finished with a bottle, save it, sterilise it, and then reuse it! You’ll save loads over the course of the year!
Tip 5 - ALWAYS be constructive in your criticism of your wine! If it doesn’t taste right, why doesn’t it taste right? What could have been done to make it better? Is there too much or too little of something? Only by being constructive, and objective, can you hope to refine your wine making!
I hope these top 5 tips are of use, if anyone has any other tips, please feel free to leave them in the comments section below!
Napa Valley Winemaking Courses
August 21, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
I spotted an article on Google News yesterday which caught my eye - it was all about becoming a wine maker in the Napa Valley ( which I think is in California - I can think of worse places to make wine! ).
Apparently over there, the whole aspect of personlisation of wine is a big deal -and I understand that - I have mentioned numerous times on this site how the whole making something personalised, that can be enjoyed by other people is a great way of getting a sense of achievement - and lets face it, wine is always enjoyable!
So the article went on to say how a small outfit in the Napa Valley helps individuals create their own wine - form as little as one barrel upwards. What you basically have to do is book your grapes fro the following harvest, then they will harvest the grapes, and make the wine.
The time frame for production depends on the grape and hence the type of home made wine you want - but typically the longest is 24 months for a decent Cabnernet Sauvignon.
The company that offers this service is called Microcrush - the article basically says that ” whether you own a vineyard or live in a big city, MicroCrush gives wine enthusiasts a fun, affordable way to craft their own Napa Valley wine in the heart of this world famous winemaking region. The service is all-inclusive, from fruit sourcing through bottling, and clients can participate as much or as little as they like. In addition to working with individuals, MicroCrush has helped launch small commercial brands. ”
Unsuprisingly, the brains behind the business are two seasoned wine makers -Art Finkelstein and his son Judd. The family has long owned the Whitehall Lane Winery and are 30 year veterans of wine making in the Napa Valley - something which I really liked - (a) because its a family business, which in these days of blue collar etc etc is refreshing, and (b) because its always nice to hear of small niche businesses making a real go of it!
What also struck me about the article is how this business offers something we don’t really have in the UK - the ability to offer REAL wine making experience! We, on the whole produce our wine from pre made concentrate, but with this firm, you actually get to make it from the grape picking part of the stage.
Dependent on your free time, budget and to an extent, location, you can be as involved or not as you want - brilliant!!
They also offer wine making courses - and if the testimonials are anything to go by, these guys are a lot of fun and very good at what they do!
My take on all this is there should be a similar style business in the UK - it would be a sure fire winner!! I’m off to talk to Chris Onslow about it!
