What R you doing today?

[ibglowin]

Keep a look out for those strong Tomatoes!

 

[mainshipfred]

Guess my drinking window opens soon - storms rolling through now...

looks like it's midnight.

 

[Boatboy24]

looks like it's midnight.

Just the beginning for the next 18-24 hours. But yeah, it's dark out there. I'm gonna go out on a limb and bet that we won't have our scheduled 8am baseball practice in the morning.

 

[mainshipfred]

Well it's blending day today at least for the Norton and Tannat, did the bench trails a couple weeks ago. Thank goodness for argon since I'll have some head space in a few carboys before finishing all the blending.

 

[DizzyIzzy]

View attachment 64932
We had a blank space of wall between the kitchen and dining room that needed "something". I had these two 4x4 wine bottle holders from my old winery and reworked them to mount side by side and hold 4 glasses and 12 bottles. Lori likes it so I guess it stays now.

Very nicely done................very "crafty".............................Dizzy

 

[DizzyIzzy]

Being thankful that this storm changed course, and praying for the folks on SW Louisiana. This storm is an absolute monster. The blue dot is where I live, the lake between me and New Orleans is 24 miles across, making the eye of Laura damn near 20 miles wide.

View attachment 65187

I feel your pain.................I have a grandson NE of Houston................baton down the hatches!!.......................................Dizzy

 

[DizzyIzzy]

i as well, but we need the rain something awful, this last spring i had bumper crops of peaches, pears, blackberries, elderberries, all failed, i'm feeding hay 2 to 3 months early,,, glad @Jlohnd is good
Dawg

Weather forecaster said that Ohio is in a drought also, and I have been noticing that all the streams are running really low. Worries me as I get my water from a shallow spring-fed well................................Dizzy

 

[Sage]

Put my party sign on a barrel.

 

[crushday]

I ordered a little over 400 lbs grapes from Colavita and Son yesterday and they say pick up will be ready mid Sept. just south of Fresno, California (roughly 10 hours from home). This will be my first crush since 2017 and since I'll be working alone this time I figured it was time to motorize my crusher/destimer using a treadmill motor and controller as suggested by @ibglowin a few years back. I cut a platform for the motor that attaches to an existing bracket and hung the controller on existing threaded studs. Still need to make a faceplate for the power switch and speed controller. Potentiometer and pullies are on order so hopefully I can get it up and running in the next week or two.
Doing 6 lugs of a coastal Pinot Noir and 6 of an old vine zin, getting excited to get going again. Lori says sitting 20 hours in the truck over 2 days is just too much so I'm heading out solo. Plan on driving out and spending the night in beautiful downtown Del Rey or Reedley then being at the warehouse when they open to load up and drive straight back to AZ. Crush, drink and crash.
View attachment 65081

I finished my 20 hour trek this past weekend. For the same reasons, Mrs. Crushday didn’t accompany me. I left Friday, late morning, and got to the hotel 10 minutes from the vineyard just after midnight. Traffic from Portland to Salem was a crawl - that sucked. But 10 hours of podcasts was nice... Drive back was faster, no traffic and different podcasts. I’d make that trip this weekend in a heartbeat for more grapes...

 

[sour_grapes]

Today, I picked up 7 gallons of Seyval juice from a group buy from my local Vintner's Assoc. I am actually unsure of the provenance. I originally thought this was local, but I now think it may be from the Finger Lakes area. I pitched some D-47 this evening. (I am also set to get 7 gal. of Vidal in a few weeks.)

 

[Boatboy24]

Beginning final prep for crush next Saturday. Just back from the Depot with another Brute.

 

[mainshipfred]

Beginning final prep for crush next Saturday. Just back from the Depot with another Brute.

I may have to get more brutes also, going to do 200 lb batches this year and 200 lbs won't fit in one 20 or 32 gallon brutes. Also going to hydrate the 2 new 50 liter barrels and build the cradles.

 

[Boatboy24]

I may have to get more brutes also, going to do 200 lb batches this year and 200 lbs won't fit in one 20 or 32 gallon brutes. Also going to hydrate the 2 new 50 liter barrels and build the cradles.

Fairfax Home Depot had a lot of 10, 20 and 32 gallon cans and lids.

 

[CDrew]

I may have to get more brutes also, going to do 200 lb batches this year and 200 lbs won't fit in one 20 or 32 gallon brutes. Also going to hydrate the 2 new 50 liter barrels and build the cradles.

200. Pounds will fit as must in a 32 gallon. At peak fermentation though you cap will be close to overflowing. But I have done 200 pounds in. 32 several times and got away with it. But it will be very heavy. Make sure it’s on a dolly.

I like to break up bigger lots up into 2 or 3 smaller ones just to make the weight easier to handle. And more brutes are always welcome.

these days I aim for 150 pounds per 32 gallon brute fermenter which is plenty of head space.

 

[mainshipfred]

200. Pounds will fit as must in a 32 gallon. At peak fermentation though you cap will be close to overflowing. But I have done 200 pounds in. 32 several times and got away with it. But it will be very heavy. Make sure it’s on a dolly.

I like to break up bigger lots up into 2 or 3 smaller ones just to make the weight easier to handle. And more brutes are always welcome.

these days I aim for 150 pounds per 32 gallon brute fermenter which is plenty of head space.
View attachment 66409

The brutes are just to bring back the grapes. They will be crushed into 3 or 4 different fermenters with different yeasts.

 

[Boatboy24]

The brutes are just to bring back the grapes. They will be crushed into 3 or 4 different fermenters with different yeasts.

Fred,

Is this for your Tuesday pickup? You're welcome to use mine.

 

[Boatboy24]

The lab is open for business!

 

[mainshipfred]

Fred,

Is this for your Tuesday pickup? You're welcome to use mine.

Thanks Jim, I'm good for Tuesday. I was more worried about later this month since I don't know what will come in when. It may be a pain but I'll probably be crushing 5-6 different times.

 

[Ajmassa]

The lab is open for business!

View attachment 66413

Bout time!

Also, ya might wanna add some apple cider vinegar to that inventory.

 

[heatherd]

I may have to get more brutes also, going to do 200 lb batches this year and 200 lbs won't fit in one 20 or 32 gallon brutes. Also going to hydrate the 2 new 50 liter barrels and build the cradles.

What time are you guys going to pick up your grapes on 10/3?