Everything was set. The yeast were happy, I had the airlocks on so that any spare CO2 would bubble out, and so that nothing would explode. When I woke up the next morning, though, I discovered that my explosion-prevention strategy had a slight flaw. I woke up to this: Turns out some strawberry pulp...
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So once I had the must chaptalized, it was (finally) time for some fermentation. Before starting fermentation, I wanted to make sure that my fermentation was clean, and that means sterilizing. Most wineries would sterilize using steam or detergents and sanitizing agents. While these are available for homebrewers (B-Brite and C-Brite are common sanitizers),...
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When we last left our berries they were cold-soaking overnight in the fridge after crush and pectinase treatment. The next day it was time to take some measurements. I squeezed the pulp in a hop bag to get straight juice out into a graduated cylinder. I suppose you don’t need a graduated cylinder but...
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Sarah and I are members of the Sweet Land Farm CSA (community-supported agrictulture) in Trumansburg. For those unfamiliar with the CSA concept, you basically invest in a share of the farm and your dividends are vegetables and fruits. Anyway, one of the benefits of membership is unlimited U-Pick strawberries. Naturally, I picked about 5...
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Long Point Cabernet Franc 2007 Appellation: New York Variety: 100% Cabernet Franc ABV: 12.9% RS: dry Price Point: $15 Notes: Looks: very dark, with magenta around the edges Nose: Smells great. Fruity. Dark fruity, actually. With blackberry and blueberry. Vanilla, cedar Alcohol features prominently on the nose as well. Palate: Lot of acidity on...
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Boordy Vineyards Icons of Maryland Riesling Appellation: “American”, grapes are sourced from WA state. Variety: Riesling ABV: 11% RS: 3% Price Point $12 Notes: Looks: Pale yellow, a bit darker than a typical riesling from NY would be. Nose: On the nose it is definitely not a NYS riesling. Very floral, perfumey. A bit...
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Channing Daughters Meditazione 2006 Appellation: Long Island Varieties: Tocai Friulano 36%, Pinot Grigio 25%, Sauvignon Blanc 17%, Chardonnay 10.3%, Muscat Ottonel 9.5%, Viognier 1.2%, Malvasia Bianca 1%. Yeah, a bunch of grapes, so to speak. ABV: 13% Price Point: $40 Notes: Looks: Bold, deep golden color with a tinge of orange, somewhat like Sauternes....
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Chateau Frank Blanc de Noirs 2002 Appelation: Finger Lakes Champagne (now, before you get all grumpy, let me assure you that this sparkling wine is legally allowed to be called “champagne” in the U.S., see this article for more details.) Varietal: Pinot Noir 95% Pinot Meunier 5% ABV: 11.1% (marked 12% on the bottle,...
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Sheldrake Point Waterfall Chardonnay 2007 Varietal: Chardonnay ABV: 12.5% RS:Dry Price Point $12 Notes: Looks: Pretty pale yellow with hints of green Nose: A little bit of freshly lit match (sulfur dioxide, a topic for another time), metallic pineapple, green apple, and slight herbal component i can’t quite nail down Palate: lively acidity, good...
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I actually found out about Sheldrake Point’s “Ices of March” event from facebook, which is interesting from a marketing perspective. Anyway, I thought this was a unique opportunity to taste several ice wines, a specialty of cooler climates like the Finger Lakes, and one benefit to our cold temperatures. The {vertical tasting} ($20, including...
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