Going into the 2025 vintage, it’s obvious that costs are on everyone’s mind. As a quality-focused consultant, I do tend to worry when I start to hear conversation regarding cost-cutting in the cellar. Grape growing, to some degree, is fixed. A grower will have to spray at routine times to avoid losing the crop. And […]
Harvest
5 Tips for Succeeding at Harvest this Year
It’s hard to believe another harvest season is sneaking up on us. While there is probably TONS of work to be done in the vineyard, it’s also time to start preparing the winery for harvest. Do not let cellar preparation get away from you. Any good winemaking team will tell you that one of the […]
5 Tips for MLF Success
Malolactic fermentation (MLF) is tricky! The biological conversion of malic acid (naturally found in grapes) to lactic acid by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) is a finicky process that can resort in off-flavors, a sluggish process, or even spoilage. It’s up to the winemaker to really pay attention to several parameters to ensure that MLF completes […]
A Harvest Season of… Hope?
Most of my conversations with winery owners and winemakers this year have circled around the recognition of decreased sales. If you read the daily Wine Industry Insight headlines, you are probably getting the same picture I am of doom and gloom for the industry. But the most recent issue of Wine Business Monthly (WBM, August […]
Back to Enology, Part 4: “Wine is Made in the Vineyard”
And the Myth that Winemaking is More Art than Science: 1 of 2 Posts With the start of the 2024 harvest, I felt it prudent to address one of my least favorite phrases echoed across the wine industry, “Wine is made in the vineyard.” Taken literally, and one would think that filled wine bottles sprout […]
The 2023 Harvest Wrap Up
What I Saw and What to Plan for Next Year The 2023 harvest season brough challenges for many. But as is true for all harvest seasons: we got through them. Here are some of my top observations from the 2023 vintage across the U.S., and what to consider for next year. Logistical Challenges The extreme […]
