Got the Grapes -- I'm Making Chardonnay Wine!

[adiochiro3]

A friend of mine owns a vineyard estate and gave me a crack at the leftovers after the mechanical pickers when through yesterday. SWMBO & I landed 150+ lbs. in about 2 hours time. It was a beautiful afternoon, and the grapes were right at peak.

Even the dog got in on the act. Having the extra fermenting buckets was sure handy for working up and down the rows. Here's the take:

The crush begins tomorrow during football.

 

[WilliamSlayer]

Good find! And a nice friend to let you grab those. Dont forget the vineyard owner at bottling time!

 

[adiochiro3]

Good find! And a nice friend to let you grab those. Dont forget the vineyard owner at bottling time!

I certainly won't! I've got an early gift of some chardonnay grape jelly as well. I had about a gallon more juice than I needed to ferment, so my dad and I cooked it up tonight. Tasty stuff!

I knocked the natural bugs out with Campden tablets yesterday and let the must breathe through some cloth for 24 hours. A lot of sediment has already fallen out of suspension with some chilling temperatures; I will rack it off and pitch the yeast into the must tomorrow.

 

[AcmeRidgeRose_Nate]

Thats great....keep us posted.

 

[Honda88]

Wow, you have some great friends!! how did you get the juice? stomp??? press???