Multitasking Tuesday

Doing a lot right now: Checking stuff on the net, watching the Indiana/NC election results, and writing this blog. And I wonder why I can't relax some nights...my downtime needs organization.

Reading 2 winemaking books right now that I'm finding very interesting and enlightening.

The first: The Way to Make Wine by Sheridan Warrick. I've read a few winemaking books, but so far this is the most accessible for the beginner. He steps you through the equipment, the basic steps and clearly illustrates why you're doing what you're doing. The rest test will be when he discusses the chemistry of adding sulfites, raising or lowering ph, etc. I BARELY passed high school Chemistry and I tend to lose focus when any type of formula is shown. If I find it easy to comprehend, this is a winner.

The second: The Home Winmaker's Companion by Gene Spaziani. This is a cool book. I've never seen such attention given to alternate methods of making wine (such as from kits, concentrate and juice.) It makes perfect sense to cover these topics, because almost everyone makes their first wine from some kind of kit. If you can help them make that first batch something they can be proud of, you've got a new winemaker. Friends and family, read carefully: home winemakers love any excuse to share their wine with someone who likes it. Getting back to the book, it also delves in to many of the varieties of grapes, and gives instructions on making wine from those grapes and juices.

I wish I had these two books when I began my first wines. I've found a few things I'm doing wrong, got some great ideas for preparing the must, and reasons to buy some cool toys (refractometer...'nuff said.)

Not sure if I mentioned this, but there's a 'Cork'd' link next to the Digg link (I've yet to be Digg'd by the way.) It's a cool site where you can review wines you've had, and suggest them to friends.

And now I have to go, I've got several Twitter tweets waiting for me.