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Big day Saturday. 18 friends and four dogs came to pick. My lovely bride made snack lunch to feed the crowd. Picked just about 1000 lbs; Pinot Blanc and Riesling we’re crushed and pressed; merlot, Syrah (430 lbs) and Sangiovese crushed and cold soaking. We also crushed and pressed ~200 lbs of...

I rack mine every 6-9 months. Sooner for the first after pressing, usually 3 months but it varies.

Hi AJ Welcome to cider making. You might need some sugar to raise the sugar depending on where you want the final alcohol. Also, if you want sweet still cider, you’ll need to sterile filter or it will ferment in the bottle. There is something you can add rather than sterile filter but I’ve...

Very nice. The wheels are a nice touch.

Sounds like you got a nice active fermentation going that simply was too much for the fermenter volume. Nothing to worry about except for cleaning it up. The eruption was due to the yeast working, so no worries about it.

Hi Jim I remove the panels and pull the screen - wear gloves! Then spray well from the hose with a garden spray nozzle set to stream. Worst place for stuck stuff is up under the rollers. I did install a hot water tap last year, so it gets all this with 110F water. End of season, I so the...

I’d say that is likely. So, if you don’t want to add acid, I’d avoid MLF. If you have a bit of acid, you can do as AJ is. What does the taste tell you? Is the acid about right? Too much/too little? TA is about taste, pH protection. Usually they go hand in hand, but not always. If acid...

Welcome Kevin:b

Darn leafhoppers overwinter on the ground. Rake, and clean out the detritus below the vines. I found better results from spraying with horticultural oils than pyganic soil drench at berry set.

I thought I’d finish whites, Pinot Blanc and Riesling, this weekend and early reds, Merlot and Tempranillo. However, with the cool weather, I’m going to wait. Highs the next week plus are supposed to be in the 60-70s. Hopefully that will be enough to get some sugars and we can pick next...

Sounds like a fun night painting. I wouldn’t worry about the syrah pH quite yet. 3.8 is not out of range. Make sure Mulford is complete and sulphite appropriately. Then as time goes you can adjust by taste. 3.8 can be a safe stable wine. As for color of the merlot, you can always blend in a bit...

Nice grapes, but you are right, your wife comes first. Mine has been battling stage IV for almost two years. Everything to help her comes first, although she does love the grapes and is the reason I’m into wine and we have a vineyard. Our hopes and prayers to you and your wife. Hopefully...

I’m with you. I’d go separate and blend later. Yes it is a bunch of ferments to keep track of, but that way you can control the final product. You might end up just blending them all, but think of what you’ll learn.

I did 88% merlot 12% ps in 2012. Best of show at the county fair. More ps overpowered the merlot.

What Brix do you look for for the following? Pinot Noir Cab 24-28. Depends on how big I want it. Sangiovese 20-24 Cab Franc 24-26 Merlot 22-26 Zinfandel Malbec 22-26 Syrah 22-26 Chardonnay 22-24 Pinot Gris Riesling 22-24 Sav Blanc 20-22 I look to balance...

Bummer about your meter. Not knowing the friend's meter, if you believe it, you might want to adjust if a white grape. If red you are, in my opinion, on the bubble. I'd leave it and see where it goes. Lots of great high pH reds out there. You can adjust later if you must.

Crush as soon as you can after picking. Grapes cease to ripen once picked and spoilage begins. I crush as soon as I haul them to the crush pad, well after coffee:h If you have to wait, keep them cool. The worse condition, the less time you have before bad things happen. One grower I've used...

Yes. Leather is nice, but be ready anytime you walk your vineyard. Rub, pinch whatever to get it off. As for books, I too like from Vines to Wines. If you can find a copy of Winkler's General Vitaculture, it is just that and very helpful. Jim Law's The Backyard Vintner is basic, but a...

Wow, fall arrived with gusto. Highs in the 60s, lows around 40 and a bit of rain. Sugars actually dropped a bit with the rain. Thus, didn't have a harvest party this weekend. Supposed to warm up this week, in the 70s today. That should move things along. Tempranillo has me grumbling as usual...

Really good info. As one battling leaf hoppers that does make one think. I hit them with Naeem oil this year and it really helped.