It's summer. I'm sure I've stated here and I'll restate it. One of my favorite things in the world is having a few friends over, sitting on the deck and sampling a few bottles of wine. There's something about the atmosphere. Drinking wine among friends, the warn weather, some cheerful music playing, the wine isn't the only thing that's intoxicating.
What's missing here? The pretense. Know what we're not doing? Telling one another that we're drinking from the wrong glass, looking down at the person who brings the Niagara, or one upping one another on what we're tasting in the wine (we draw the line at leather or smoke.) If we crack open a bottle of wine, it's MEANT TO BE ENJOYED. The enjoyment comes from the alcohol loosening up conversation, the magic of good friends under a night sky with a few candles so you can see your glasses or even better, a fire pit.
Yes, I love a hearty red with some pasta or a steak. But will I happily drink a cheap concord on a hot night? You know it!!!!!!! It's simple, if it tastes good, enjoy it. Don't give those wine snobs a second thought. They CAN'T enjoy their wine; they're too busy nitpicking every aspect of it. Wrong glass, not as good as the last bottle/vintage, should have let it age longer, not the same since the synthetic corks were used...the list goes on.
I kinda feel bad for them.
Go ahead, hug a wine snob next time you see one. They need it.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
2 New Wines!!!!
Yesterday my Chilean Malbec and Viognier juices were delivered. I set the sealed buckets in the kitchen to come to room temp overnight and added the yeast about 10 minutes ago.
23 and 22 Brix, respectively. AND, to my surprise, they had already begun to ferment. I know that's not ideal, but don't know what else to do. Hopefully the two yeast strains will do some nice work.
I'm really looking forward to these. The grapes I've purchased from this supplier have been much better than my old supplier. I'm hoping the juices are just as good.
I'll know in a week.
23 and 22 Brix, respectively. AND, to my surprise, they had already begun to ferment. I know that's not ideal, but don't know what else to do. Hopefully the two yeast strains will do some nice work.
I'm really looking forward to these. The grapes I've purchased from this supplier have been much better than my old supplier. I'm hoping the juices are just as good.
I'll know in a week.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Fun way to get into Winemaking
Yesterday the wife and I were doing some shopping and stopped for a coffee. Right next door there was a place called Vintner's Circle. We spent about 20 minutes chatting with the owners Stan and Joanne and I was impressed.
Here's how it works: You pick a style of wine from an array of available kits. You pour the juice in the primary fermenter, add any ingredients suggested, the yeast, and let the wine ferment. About a week later (and my timetable may be wrong) you'll return to put it into a secondary fermenter (awesome carboy cozy included!!!) On your next trip you'll stir up the wine to release CO2 and add your clarifiers. About a week or more later you'll go back to bottle the wine.
The prices are fair...it's a business so he has to make money. You'll end up getting close to 30 bottles, and spend about $10 a bottle. That includes your kit, the bottles, personalized labels and the use of their equipment.
For that price, how is the wine? The wines I tasted there (made on the premises from the available kits) were better than anything I've made at home from grapes. I would pay $10 or more for a bottle of these wines in a store. They were really, really good.
Here's the lowdown: If you like wine and would like to try it out; this is for you. If you want to make your own wine but don't want to invest in all the equipment at first; this is for you. If you'd love the idea of showing up on a friends' deck with a bottle of wine, oh and it just happens to be one you made, and it just happens to be delicious; this is for you.
Blog note: I know I keep saying I'm going to post more often. I'm not promising anything, but I have a few wine things going on, and have recently started making beer. I expect I'll have more blogging material.
It's nice out...grab a glass and head to the porch. You'll be happy you did.
Here's how it works: You pick a style of wine from an array of available kits. You pour the juice in the primary fermenter, add any ingredients suggested, the yeast, and let the wine ferment. About a week later (and my timetable may be wrong) you'll return to put it into a secondary fermenter (awesome carboy cozy included!!!) On your next trip you'll stir up the wine to release CO2 and add your clarifiers. About a week or more later you'll go back to bottle the wine.
The prices are fair...it's a business so he has to make money. You'll end up getting close to 30 bottles, and spend about $10 a bottle. That includes your kit, the bottles, personalized labels and the use of their equipment.
For that price, how is the wine? The wines I tasted there (made on the premises from the available kits) were better than anything I've made at home from grapes. I would pay $10 or more for a bottle of these wines in a store. They were really, really good.
Here's the lowdown: If you like wine and would like to try it out; this is for you. If you want to make your own wine but don't want to invest in all the equipment at first; this is for you. If you'd love the idea of showing up on a friends' deck with a bottle of wine, oh and it just happens to be one you made, and it just happens to be delicious; this is for you.
Blog note: I know I keep saying I'm going to post more often. I'm not promising anything, but I have a few wine things going on, and have recently started making beer. I expect I'll have more blogging material.
It's nice out...grab a glass and head to the porch. You'll be happy you did.
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