Fulchino Vineyard

[Goodfella]

WOW Al,


That picture is sweeeeeet.


I am also interested in the variety?

 

[AlFulchino]

folks...i have answered the vine question via email

i dont want it thought that i ignored the requests...i have encountered a local farmer who displayed an act of.....i dont even know what to call it....but tried to interfere w my plans here in town and has been trying to find out various info about my venture.....i have seen this sort of thing before w other businesses that i have had...so for the time being..in an effort to get my feet on the ground as a running winery i have to hold back some info that i would normally love to share here

it is strange how some local farmers have been so very friendly to me and if asked i would help them..in fact i have offered..and then another (one) feels we are somehow a threat to them and thier centurt history and 4-500 acre operation......i have five acres in total....geesh

 

[AlFulchino]

side note 36 degrees last night

 

[OilnH2O]

Interesting side note, Al! Last night, 36* overnight here in Missoula, too! This is what the FBI calls "a clue...."

 

[grapeman]

Hey it was 36 here also! I think it is a conspiracy!

 

[nhdennis]

Yes gang, Fallis here....football, fleece, and red wine time

 

[AlFulchino]

finally getting back to the construction after three weeks w other responsibilities...about have the barrel roof tile has been installed...(bottom picture) at http://www.fulchinovineyard.com/winery_construction.htm

 

[grapeman]

Looks great Al. Hope everything is all tucked away where it is nice and warm. I wish mine were- it's getting cold! We are expecting rain and snow showers overnight. I need to put picking into hyper-drive.

 

[BonnieJoy]

NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[AlFulchino]

half way down one of the trellis rows was a wasp nest....bigger than a basketball...white and black wasps...mean mean mean....up until four days ago when i noted that only a third of it remained...the rest was gone gone gone....looked for tracks but we had just had a good rain on soil that had been cultivated...so no tracks....i dont think the wind did it....gotta be a bear...there was a bear sighting two months ago, 500 feet from this very spot

i signed up for grapes and wines...not bears

 

[gaudet]

Hey Boo Boo, lets steal that pic-a-nic basket from Ranger Al...................

 

[AlFulchino]

i am positive this is what he looks like ...maybe BIGGER

 

[AlFulchino]

just an update before i get to the real reason for posting:

TTB says we are a go...should receive the paperwork in two weeks....we have to make a technical change on our bond otherwise we would have the paperwork in hand next week...then it will be on to filling out the state paperwork...so not bad on the TTB as it is only five weeks as of today

we also got our building inspections all done and have been given the go ahead to sheetrock and paint

now the real reason....this may have been mentioned a bunch of times before, so i apologize if its a repeat....but in speaking w the TTB today i was reminded of the importance of NOT putting Chitosin in wine.....it is illegal in the US of A as a food item or addititive.....

 

[grapeman]

Glad the process is proceeding well for you Al.


As far as chitosan being illegal - maybe they could cite the law to you. I can find no mention of that regulation anywhere. It is a widely used product and is even used for weigh loss. I don't use it myself, but a good share of the kits made today use the two part clariiers - which means they would all be illegal.

 

[xanxer82]

I looked chitosan up on wiki since it came with my kit.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chitosan

 

[AlFulchino]

i hear you both..just relaying what i was told today from TTB

 

[AlFulchino]

National Organic Program (NOP); Amendments to the National List of Allowed and
Prohibited Substances (Crops and Livestock). On December 10, 2007 (72 FR 69569),
AMS issued a final rule that amends USDA's National List of Allowed and Prohibited
Substances (National List) regulations to reflect recommendations submitted to the
Secretary of Agriculture by the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) on August 17,
2005. Consistent with the recommendations from the NOSB, this final rule adds one
substance, along with any restrictive annotations, to two sections of the National List. This
final rule also clarifies the use and prohibition of chitosan. This rule became effective
December 11, 2007.

http://www.fpa-food.org/Upload/library/12212007142151.pdf

 

[AlFulchino]

now that site mentioned organic...i have found several sites mentioining it is also illegal w non-organic rated wines, but am looking for a solid source

 

[grapeman]

I bet there are a lot of winemakers out there unaware of this rule. Why are the rules and regulations so hard to find - yet we are all expected to abide by them?

 

[Scott]

The wasps nest was most likely torn apart by birds after the larve inside. Bluejays around here rip them up quickly.


But your story sounds better

Good luck with your venture and the nosey neighbor.