Fulchino Vineyard

[grapeman]

Al has really been busy since yesterday. I stopped over at his place and found he had already built his little winery and even planted the grass to get rid of all the mud

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[AlFulchino]

hahahha///yep that is MUD w a capital M , U and D...we had 3.5 inches of rain a few days back and that area has a lot of tractor tire ruts......it dried up some buts all a mess now that i dug a 300 foot water and elec trench...i call these the no glory days...its all the stuff not seen....today i set the four corner footers..and if that heavy rain (2-3 inches) that is predicted for this evening passes by us then i will install the four footers at the midway point on each side....then i may take a 3 day break from that and comb and trim the vineyard and get a spray in on the vines and bring the base material in on monday and tuesday...pack that down and frame up the floor area for a pour late next week

by the way...since you planted the grass you can mow it to!

 

[grapeman]

I thought just getting rid of the mud was a good job, now I need to mow the grass too? Geeze........... Maybe I need to break out the roundup!

That is actually a little building I threw together for myself if I decide on new over renewed. The building is 16 x 32 with a partition at 8 feet to make a locked storage area for the Feds. There is also an 8 foot wide covered pad at the front to use for storage and crush pad. Pole barn construction with metal roofing and siding inside and out. Overall the building is 24 x 32 feet and would cost around 10 grand. I figure I can retrofit my existing barn for less than that and that is three times as large. It also already has power, water and waste drainage.


Keep us posted on your progress.

 

[rrawhide]

Hey Al


Love your new building - I tried to make a Fulchino Vineyards sign for the porch but I need more that I have to make that happen. I think that Rich will have to do that too!


Anyway, GOOD LUCK on your project and keep us up to date.


Later


rrawhide


ps: I used a Cat mini excavator over the weekend to pull some cattails out of brother-in-laws pond. They are fun fun fun little machines. With some excitement!!! - was sitting on the dam (about 10' wide) tracks facing the water grabbing cat tails and then swinging over to the side to drop on top of the dam. Built a nice little pile and then push off into a dump area. WELL, I grabbed a BIG clump of 'cats' - swung around - and went up on one track!!! Well, let me tell you, funny things go thru your mindand you pinch the tractor seat tightly!!! Then you think OK which joystick handledoes what? And you do it very slowly!! (for those who do not know - each joystick does 4 functions so you have 8 directions to sort outWHILE sitting up in the air on one track. Got it back on ground on it's two tracks without incident. BUT funny noise was coming from behind the tractor - turned around - it was my brother-in-law in hysterics. Memorable time!!!

 

[AlFulchino]

Rich..if your barn is in the right location then its a no brainer...remodel the existing place

Rrawhide......first you have that quick thought about holding onto the seat and immediately after that you try to picture how you are going to leap out of the machine if you have to....

ps...have your brother in law run that machine for a few minutes

 

[rrawhide]

Al


I wasn't holding on to the seat with my hands. Something about pucker - - -


and ps: it was my brother-in-laws machine. I was the newbie!!!


Still, it was fun


rrawhide

 

[AlFulchino]

poured the floor yesterday...looks terrific today...i created a webs page to chronicle some of the progress....

http://www.fulchinovineyard.com/winery_construction.htm

it may load slow for you until i downsize the picture size in terms of bytes..i will try to do that as time permits

 

[gaudet]

Looking good Al. Hope to one day tour the Fulchino Vineyards..........

You guys should open a B&B as well

 

[fivebk]

Looks like alot of hard work is well under way. Good luck in your venture.

P.S. By the way I would like to put a face to the name Al, Which one are you in the pics

BOB

 

[grapeman]

Your website is really taking shape Al. The catalog of plants is getting very nice. You must get a bit of help with it. You do so many things you couldn't have enough time for doing everything.


It is great to see your small winery building taking shape. What is this one going to be used for, everything?

 

[AlFulchino]

Hey Mr Go- Day!...how are things? Funny you should mention that...last night i got an email asking us if we hosted weddings yet.....turns out it was from a person originally from our area wanting to come back and have their wedding in our town....

I will have to think hard on a b&b....thats a REAL 24-7 job more than farming !

Hey Bob...that's easy! just look for the most handsome fellow in the pictures! ...and if you cannot locate him ....well its the one wearing the white t shirt

Thanks Rich....that part is all my wife and daughter..they deserve all the credit...i will pass that on...my role is over all theme...big picture stuff and also the winery page ......and yes this small building will start off as an everything building...and if there is any success then that will become strictly a winemaking and wine storage area and the new building will become the 'everything' building minus wine making...i got to walk on the concrete yesterday...we missed the rain...so it will have two and a half full dry days before it sees rain...hopefully the lumber is available for me to pick up today....how is your verasion siutaion?

 

[rrawhide]

morn'n Al


Sure looking good - I just knew you was the one in the 'white shirt' cause good guys wear white!!!!!!


At this rate - the building will be done by this weekend and you will be sitting on the porch enjoying a glass of your finest and contemplating your future B&B.


Anyway, have fun and be safe.


later


rrawhide

 

[grapeman]

Al veraison is just barely thinking of getting going. Nothing has turned enough yet to really count. I did see a few grapes with a blue hue to them in the Millot. The Frontenac have that color to them they get before suddenly turning. I expect them to start to get seious soon. How are yours?


By the way, you can also tell Al because he is the most modest guy there! He is that big tall Italian guy commanding respect with his presence!

 

[AlFulchino]

ah..Rich you are so very deciphering hahahaha...trust me though the short guy w the sunglasses is actually a professional comedian working w some of the biggest people in LV...he can command ten times more than i

verasion has hit the marq's big time..so much so that some of the ones most far along can actually be enjoyed right now,......they will end up raisaning.....also the front's are coming on but less than half of what the marq's are at....i am not sure why this is because nothing else even close to what they or the fronts are although the f gris are getting into verasion a bit..i suspect its all gonna happen right when i have the least time to pull them all

 

[Wade E]

Looking good there Al!

 

[BonnieJoy]

Al, checked out your website. Very nice indeed. Kuddos to your wife & daughter. The everything building is taking shape. Please keep posting your progress

 

[rrawhide]

Morn'n Al


Just spent the last few minutes in total enjoyment!!!!! I took the time to completely look at your website. WOW!!! Very impressive. (ps: everyone needs to check it out!!!)


You really 'got it all goin' on'!!!!!!!


Read Appleman's and Wade's comments and these should certainly entice everyone to come and try and BUY (when ready) some of your wine. They are truly words to hold on to.


Just too bad that California is not closer to New Hampshire!!!! But, one day, I will try some of your liquid gold.


Anyway, good luck and most importantly, have fun.


best regard to you and your family.


rrawhide

 

[AlFulchino]

http://www.fulchinovineyard.com/winery_construction.htm

just updated w three pictures of the start of the walls if anyone would like to see it

thanks Wade.

thanks Bonny..yes they deserve that credit!

Hi Rrawhide....thank you...and regards to y'all as well! I gotta pic a door out next...i was going to just use a single door but decided today that i just have to have a double door for proper function...and since i will be framing the front by thursday, i have some thinkin' to do...the trusses should be here friday

 

[AlFulchino]

verasion 2009...

when the frost hits in the previous winter you think you will never see another grape

when the first bud pops in the spring you feel ages away from a grape

when conditions for disease push you to your limit...
when the pruning seems to tough to complete...
when the weeds race to beat you even while you lay asleep.....
....you are sure you will never see another grape

and then sometime in late july or early august you see this (and then there is only one more thing to think about

yep...one more thing to think about....
and no, it is not wine, juice or jam...

the invaders....birds, bees and deer

i'll never see another grape

 

[grapeman]

Get those nets on man!