Search results

If you have the space, a lifting table from Harbor Freight helps with those 5 & 6.5 gal carboys. It was a game changer for me. I have shelving that are height of the lifting table so transferring from table to shelves or vice versa is much easier. Depending on how much wine you make, I’ll agree...

Thx. There is always next year.

Well, I emailed MoreWine and they said. Since I ordered the 1.5g package of C15, it is good for 66 gals. Since I only had 3 gallons, 1.5\66=0.02grams per gallon 0.02x3gal=0.06gram of C15. I rounded up to 0.10grams. It is also useable for later if kept dry and cool.

Winter vineyard

Dead Ent?

I have 2 Seville racks as well. Game changer for the Villavino cellar (basement).

I go to the local winery to get his once used bottles from his tasting room. He can’t use them again so he gives a great deal. All the same size cork but a little work cleaning and getting the labels off. Usually the labels come off after 10 minutes in hot water. I’m kinda a newbie here but have...

That’s funny. I’m the one who always cooks it too long.

We have cooked a turkey on the Weber for 25+ years. This year I’ve convinced the family to try using a NESCO. Prep the bird however you want, put it in the Nesco and just wait until done. We’ve done this with our smaller thanksgiving dinner at home and it’s surprisingly simple. Hopefully it...

I’m going to try out the Fast Ferment conical fermenter this weekend with an Amber ale. Any tips before I dive into this one.

I agee with most of what was said in the previous posts. This is what I did and should have done. All rows are 10’ wide. 11’ would have been better. Make sure you have enough head room at the end of the rows to turn your tractor with a sprayer on the back. 18’ between posts with 6’ spacing...

Good luck. Being just a one man operation, I find that 3 acres is the limit to take care of effectively. I employ an Amish family to help prune, plant and harvest. I do the rest.

How many rows will you have and how long?

Sab does just fine and is a pretty good producer of grapes. My Marquette vines grow like wild but produce only a fair amount of clusters. I hedge the heck out of them. I have to or the rows would grow into each other. I have 10’ row spacing. It makes a very good wine. Petite Pearl has reasonable...

I should say they are all on VSP except the LS. They are on TWC. I should have put them on VSP because no matter how hard I prune, they get too top heavy and they are difficult to spray on top and underneath. I’ve tried to switch to VSP but they refuse. Petite Pearle is looking very promising...

Marquette, Sabrevios, Prairie Star, Brianna, some Lacresent that were accidentally mixed in with the Brianna and Louise Swenson. We live on the 44th parallel in western Wisconsin. I’ve literally seen -35F when driving to ref a hockey game on a Sunday morning. I’ve only lost vines to mice girdling.

Pick up the book From Vines to Wines and you will have all your vineyard questions answered. I read it many times when I started my vineyard. As for varieties, Marquette makes for a very good wine. I have Lacresent but they are the biggest PITA grapes to grow. They make a good wine but the...

Are you using a cheesecloth straining bag in the press? I found that using a straining bag helps with grapes popping out the slats. Also, if you have a white grape, you probably don’t want to ferment them on the skins too long. Get as much juice by pressing the grape and put the juice in your...

I did exactly as salcoco did and it worked just fine.

I’m a Midwest grape grower. You should check your local wineries and vineyards and find out what they consider easy to grow. Go to a smaller vineyard and ask to speak with the owner or manager. Now is a good time because harvest is over. Good luck.