No coherent theme...just some updates.
The blueberry wine was at 1.125 brix this evening. Probably be straining it in the next 48 hours. I HAD to taste it...and it's going to be good.
Bought the wine press; it's really cool, if you're into that sort of thing. If you're not, it's a lot of metal and wood.
Had an acid problem with last year's Ruby Cab. Tested the wine (something I should have done with the 'must' or freshly pressed juice/wine) and the acid was a bit high. I adjusted 2 gallons, both fizzed up the second the calcium carbonate hit the wine. Vast improvement on the gallon that for 1 tsp, mild improvement on the gallon that got 1/2 tsp. I'll give both a few days and taste again.
Starting to get prices for grapes. It sucks...prices are up big time from last year. I'd love to see $30 a case...add that to the list of things I'd love, but ain't likely to happen.
Mike Rowe is shaving Bison. That has nothing to do with wine, but I'm in a stream of consciousness kinda' mood.
Happy Labor Day.
Sean
Monday, September 1, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
2008 Blueberry Wine: Part 1
Big day for the blog...first batch of wine being made here!
I HAD to have had one of the more interesting grocery carts today. I need a few items to make the wine tonight: 6 lbs of raisins, 12 lbs of sugar and 3 pts of blueberries (to bring me up to a total of 12 lbs). Add to that the box of cat litter and the nondairy creamer Heidi wanted, and I was almost nervous about getting in line. No good could come of this combination, right.
So, the wine:
Specific gravity was off the chart..or at least off my great-grandfather's hydrometer that I think saw more moonshine than wine. I broke my wine hydrometer while carrying it up from the cellar.
Acid was 2.9-3.0. I had the test strips and it was in that neighborhood. Going to get a real acid test kit on Friday and do it right.
When the must cools off I'm going to add Pasteur Red yeast.
The recipe (Full Bodied) .
We'll see how this turns out.
Till then.
I HAD to have had one of the more interesting grocery carts today. I need a few items to make the wine tonight: 6 lbs of raisins, 12 lbs of sugar and 3 pts of blueberries (to bring me up to a total of 12 lbs). Add to that the box of cat litter and the nondairy creamer Heidi wanted, and I was almost nervous about getting in line. No good could come of this combination, right.
So, the wine:
Specific gravity was off the chart..or at least off my great-grandfather's hydrometer that I think saw more moonshine than wine. I broke my wine hydrometer while carrying it up from the cellar.
Acid was 2.9-3.0. I had the test strips and it was in that neighborhood. Going to get a real acid test kit on Friday and do it right.
When the must cools off I'm going to add Pasteur Red yeast.
The recipe (Full Bodied) .
We'll see how this turns out.
Till then.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Payback was pretty sweet
I worked with Jeanne for roughly 10 years. This past Thursday was my last day working near her (I've taken a new job in the company) and I guess you could say I left a parting gift...winemaking.
Jeanne and her husband Peter have several blueberry bushes on their property. I'm not aware of how many, just that they have enough to give to everyone who asks, and then some. They have so many, in fact, that Jeanne asked me on Thursday what she needed to buy to make blueberry wine. I gave her a recipe and a shopping list of equipment for her first 6 gallons and sent her excitedly on her way.
Today I stopped by to ask how it went.
Five gallons of wine did not claim enough berries (10 lbs) and Peter bought another primary to get another five gallons going. She asked 'do you want any berries?' Do I want berries? Of course.
Tomorrow I get to pick up 10 lbs of blueberries. I'll add 2 lbs of my own to fill our the 12 lbs/6 gallon fermenter. I can't wait.
Free berries, and I passed the hobby onto another unsuspecting victim. Heh Heh Heh.
To be continued on Tuesday...
Jeanne and her husband Peter have several blueberry bushes on their property. I'm not aware of how many, just that they have enough to give to everyone who asks, and then some. They have so many, in fact, that Jeanne asked me on Thursday what she needed to buy to make blueberry wine. I gave her a recipe and a shopping list of equipment for her first 6 gallons and sent her excitedly on her way.
Today I stopped by to ask how it went.
Five gallons of wine did not claim enough berries (10 lbs) and Peter bought another primary to get another five gallons going. She asked 'do you want any berries?' Do I want berries? Of course.
Tomorrow I get to pick up 10 lbs of blueberries. I'll add 2 lbs of my own to fill our the 12 lbs/6 gallon fermenter. I can't wait.
Free berries, and I passed the hobby onto another unsuspecting victim. Heh Heh Heh.
To be continued on Tuesday...
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