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Making some wine

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atomicsmoke

atomicsmoke

Master of the Pit
Original poster
OTBS Member
Apr 3, 2014
4,313
1,238
Toronto, Canada
Haven't made my own wine for a few years now.

85% of the Sauvignon Blanc vines in the Niagara region were killed by the nasty two last winters. Couldnt get grapes locally so got some trucked all the way from California.

7 cases of Sauv Blanc. Grapes (a little more than 250lbs)
IMG_20150911_200650.jpg

IMG_20150911_200650.jpg


Washed and disinfected all the vessels, airlocks, corks, crusher , press and other accessories needed.

Will start on it tomorrow morning.

Expect the first sip in January-February. No oaking, aging.
 
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Setup and cleanup is actually most of the labour. Pretty much like smoking.:-)

White is pretty straightforward. Red requires some extra steps as some of fermentation (if not whole) takes place on skins (before pressing). There were years when I was doing four grapes grapes. That would fill two weekends easily.

Unlike smoking you get some instant gratification. The freshly pressed juice is excellent. Which reminds me: need to buy some chestnuts. Roasted chestnuts + fresh grape juice - another treat of my childhood.
 
I'm in for the view..      

It is so interesting to read that grape availability back east was impacted by harsh winters and out here it is the drought.  Glad to see you can get grapes shipped back to you.  Contrary to belief wine grapes do pretty well in low water conditions, to a point.  Sugar content increases but yield can decrease.   Makes for some interesting wine!
 
You are correct. Moderate drought works well for wine grapes. I don't get them shipped. There are a few businesses in the area who import them (lot of Italians and Portuguese around here).
 
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Yep...hand crank. Wish it was handmedown.Bought of kijiji (craiglist).
 
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Wow that press brings back memories.  My Italian grandfather had a press similar to that he made himself as a worker in a coal mine foundry.  When they had downtime he could use scrap to make whatever he wanted.  My folks had it for a while but left it outside and the termites feasted on it. 

Right now I'm sipping on a 2010 Sangiovese one of my daughter's Italian inlaws made. Nothing better than homemade wine.  

This is a great thread Atomicsmoke!
 
Beleive or not winemaking tools have not changed much. Of course you can get stainless steel presses these days. But old school cage build are still available (and more affordable)

 
I have a lot of friends scrambling in the annual "grape harvest panic" mode. All of the grapes are coming earlier this year, with smaller yields. From what I've seen so far, the berries have exhibited great flavors and higher than normal brix levels. Most of the local vineyards, the harvests are down 70-80% yield from last year, due to the drought. 

Be fun to see and taste the results in a next couple of years.
 
Illustrating oxidation in wine (and grape juice).
IMG_20150919_132401.jpg

IMG_20150919_132401.jpg


Left hand glass has a sample of the juice taken from the fermentation demijohn. Right hand glass has the same juice but saved in the fridge after pressing (to enjoy as juice - fridge temp prevents fermentation). As we drank the juice there was more exposure to oxygen. The juice in the fermentation vessel has a layer of CO2 instead of the airpocket (from fermentation) - which shileds the juice. Once fermentation is finished and the juice topped up I will add potassium metabisulfite to further prevent oxidation. The main exposure happens during racking.
 
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