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Winemaking – Crushing Grapes
As I posted earlier, we are hobby winemakers with the aspiration of having our own, real winery one day. As a result, our batches of wine have been scaled up to larger volume – of course, having your...
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December Vineyard – 2012
I thought you might enjoy seeing what a change has occurred in the vineyard since harvest. No longer is it the vibrant green signalling life and growth. After harvest, the vines continue to store...
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Preparing for 2013 Grape Planting
We will be planting another 5+ acres of grapes in the spring – 4 1/2 acres of Montepulciano and 1 acre of Aglianico – that equals 16 more rows! While we will not be doing the actual planting of the...
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Prepruning the Vineyard 2013
It is that time of year again! Time to break out of our lazy winter, no-work lull (ha-ha!) and start pruning the vineyard. Pre-pruning is done mechanically and saves us a lot of time. The pre-pruner...
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Pruning the Vineyard 2013
Last week on Family Fridays, I explained about pre-pruning with our Pellenc 4560 grape harvester. After pre-pruning is completed, hand pruning is done to further prepare the vineyard for fruit...
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Cows, Wine and Woodworking
Today on Family Fridays I have a couple of highlights to share. The week started with decanting the Aglianico and Montepulciano wines we have settling in our shed- 90 gallons of each – that is a lot...
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Preparing for Planting 2013
Our vines arrived Thursday – all 5 acres of them. And, it only took two FedEx boxes to hold them! We will be expanding the vineyard another 5 acres this year. The new grapes to be planted are more...
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Planting Grapevines – 2013
We have expanded the vineyard another 5 acres this year! We added 4 acres of Montepulciano and another acre of Aglianico. Both are Italian red varieties and make full bodied, dark red wines. I would...
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Almost Finished Pruning!
Yeah – we are almost finished pruning the vineyard! The pruned vineyard still looks a bit bleak but clean and sunset is a beautiful time of day to be on top of the filter house overlooking the...
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What You Don’t Want to See in a Budding Vineyard!
I have been in the tropics and then to Alaska – all in one week! Yes, it is tiring being a world traveler, but somebody’s gotta do it – right? OK, I really didn’t go to the tropics – or Alaska. But, I...
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The Barn Completed – EIFS and All!
Yippee! The EIFS on our ICF barn is now compete! It looks as though I am speaking in code doesn’t it with all the acronyms! Here is the code: EIFS = exterior insulation finishing system – It is like a...
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De-Budding the Vineyard
It is that time of year again – time to de-bud the vineyard. We have prepared for planting and planted 5 new acres but now it is time to take care of the older vines. You might wonder what de-budding...
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Hoe, Hoe, Hoe!
Not – Ho, Ho, Ho, as in Merry Christmas – for us it is Hoe, Hoe, Hoe as in exercise! Since all the de-budding of the vineyard is finished, you might think that we can just kick back, put our feet up...
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Tucking Grapevines – Canopy Management
Tucking grapevines for canopy management is what is going on in the vineyard now! Sound exciting? Well, actually it is! It is very exciting to see the vines recovering with growth and even finding...
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Vineyard at Sunrise
For the past month we have been tucking the grapevines up into the guide wires and this week we finished! Tucking is done for canopy management and ease at harvest time. Thankfully the temperatures...
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Vineyard Work – More Tucking!
Last week we took time off from vineyard work to help our oldest son and daughter-in-law who are building an ICF (insulated concrete forms) house on their land that adjoins ours. While we took a...
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Homecoming and Harvest Preparation
Before I tell you how close harvest is, let me just say, it is so good to be home! Don’t get me wrong – I had a wonderful visit for 10 whole days in Macon, Georgia with my mom (aka Mimi) and my sister...
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Roussanne – Testing the pH and Brix
It is that time of year again – time to begin checking to see just how ripe the grapes are and if they are ready to harvest. For us, grape harvest is the culmination of the work we have done all year...
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Roussanne – 1 Acre Harvested!
Although John and the boys have been doing some custom harvesting, for us, the first harvest of 2013 was last week -1 acre of Roussanne! After testing the pH and Brix, one winery decided it was time...
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Pellenc 4560 Grape Harvester in Action – Video
As you might remember, last year John and the boys made a trip to California to see a Pellenc 4560 grape harvester in action. And, then, we purchased it! I must say, it is one amazing machine. So...
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