Well, we harvested our last grapes yesterday, Cabernet Franc. They came in at 22 brix and I am happy with them. Rain is predicted for the next 3 days and again next week, so at least I don’t have that to worry about any more. We will still be processing some grapes, however, as Sanders Ridge Vineyards has a few more varieties to harvest. We are making their wine at our winery as construction heads towards completion on theirs.
Read More...It is quite a juggling act trying to continue to process grapes, rack off the wines that have finished fermenting, and press the newly fermented red wines. Among other things, this all creates a logistical nightmare. While it is very important for each of these things to be done in a timely fashion, I often discover that I need a certain tank for some grapes coming in but it has wine in it.
Read More...Well, after some nice sunshine and warm days, some of these red grapes are getting back to normal. We have harvested the Syrah and Zinfandel. While the brix levels were very good, the Zinfandel has a strange phenomenon. It is 23.5 brix and very high in acid. I don’t know what could have caused this but I will investigate further. Color on both wines is incredible and I look for both to be excellent from this 2008 vintage.
But, alas, the hurricanes keep coming this year, and so does the rain. The waiting game begins again.
Read More...Well, the rain that had passed us by so many times decided to come and stay and make up for it. The remnants of Tropical Storm Fay dropped 5 inches in a 24 hour period, with another inch the next day. Looks like we are in a holding pattern for awhile. In a couple days, I will go check the grapes in the field and see what changes have occurred. It is assumed that they will have taken up some of this water and the sugar levels and flavors will have fallen. Fortunately, it is early in the season and our best hope is that it will get sunny and warm again for several days and the water will shrink back again. Time and Mother Nature will tell.
Read More...Monday, August 25th, was the longest day of harvest so far. There has been a huge problem with mildew this year, particularly on the Chardonnay grapes in the area. So every available person, including my assistant winemaker and me, were out in the Chardonnay field handpicking only the choicest bunches or portions of bunches to keep for our wine.
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