Whether you are a hobbyist winemaker or this is your first year as an established commercial winery, there are several key elements that can help make your first harvest go smoothly. Today, we’re going to review a few of those basic elements to avoid walking into harvest with an overwhelming feeling. 1. Draw out an […]
Harvest
Four Steps to Transition the Cellar in Preparation for Harvest
For those wine regions in the southernmost states, harvest prep may have already started in May, as harvest season may be in full swing early July. However, for many wine regions in the U.S., the months of June and July mark the beginning of harvest preparation in the winery cellar and production space. While it […]
Don’t Forget! “Creatively Perfecting Wines in Challenging Vintage Years” Webinar on March 26th
Early in March, I presented options for how to use wines produced from disease-heavy fruit at the annual Grape Expectations conference in New Jersey. However, given many winemakers could not attend this conference, I’m going to review some of these core concepts in the March Darn Good Winemakers session. If you need help getting something […]
Enhancing Quality of Subpar Wines
Did the 2018 vintage leave you with wines that are less than desirable? If so, you’re not alone. Winemakers in hot, consistently dry climates get adjusted to the routine of making wine. But if you’re a winemaker in a region that experiences vintage variation, routine winemaking practices can be your worst enemy. In years that […]
Maintaining Post-Harvest Momentum
Whether you had the harvest season you’ve always waited for, or you’re just now stabilizing those wines from an unideal vintage, maintaining post-harvest momentum is a challenging thing. The crunch time of harvest is draining: physically tiring and emotionally taxing. If you didn’t take good notes through the harvest season, it can be difficult to […]
Producing Quality Red Wines with Unripe Fruit
When a vintage goes less than planned, it can often produce hardship in producing high quality red wine. There are several issues that are concerning with regards to red wines: Lack of color intensity Excessive astringency or bitterness High acid (sourness) Lack of alcohol Incidence of green flavors, many that may smell like “green bell […]
