Shirley_Rocks
Old Wino, New Vintner
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2011
- Messages
- 12
- Reaction score
- 0
Hi, all... My name is Shirley, and I have a degree in geology (no job atm) hence the name. I'm an avid vegetable gardener, I have some fruit trees and things, planning on more, and I am new to wine making, although I grew up around a little bit of it.
I've been reading up on it for years, had purchased some equipment several years ago, but hadn't been able to find glass carboys locally until a few days ago. One year I was going to buy the plastic kind, but then masked robbers wiped out all of my concord grapes. Those @#&%@ raccoons seem to know when grapes have reached their peak of perfection!
When I was a kid, my dad made a few batches of wine, and I was allowed to try sweetened versions of the dandelion and the rose petal wines he made. You know, there aren't many things I remember clearly from back when I was that young, but I remember those distinctive tastes very, very well. Since the Japanese beetles tend to destroy those very same roses, it's unlikely I'll make that kind (although the first bloom occurs just before the beetles emerge, so next your I may beat them to it) but I'll definitely make dandelion wine. I've read a few recipes online over the years, and I understand better why the flavor was so distinctive.
So obviously, I'm a science buff and will enjoy this hobby from that aspect probably almost as much as I'll enjoy the finished products! I also enjoy cooking, and I'm very good at differentiating flavors and picking out the many "notes" in foods and wines, so I know I'll love that part of it as well. I also like making pickles, so a bad batch may find some unusual repurposing I also just generally like being able to make anything from scratch, and anything that can help me be more self-sufficient, so wine making fits a lot of my interests. and that, too
So today, I'm going to start cleaning my carboys (they're a little dusty as I got them at an estate sale) while I prepare my first must of blueberries which are in season right now. I have H.E. Bravery's "Successful Wine Making at Home" and while the language is a little dated, it's very straightforward and easy to follow. I'm armed with all sorts of little jars of powders and things and a hydrometer and other fun toys.
I'm looking forward to playing "mad chemist" and enjoying the finished product as well as hanging around here and learning more. I'm very much at home with online forums and know how enjoyable it can be to share tips, ideas and hard won successes and failures with others who enjoy the same pursuits. Looking forward to that here!
I've been reading up on it for years, had purchased some equipment several years ago, but hadn't been able to find glass carboys locally until a few days ago. One year I was going to buy the plastic kind, but then masked robbers wiped out all of my concord grapes. Those @#&%@ raccoons seem to know when grapes have reached their peak of perfection!
When I was a kid, my dad made a few batches of wine, and I was allowed to try sweetened versions of the dandelion and the rose petal wines he made. You know, there aren't many things I remember clearly from back when I was that young, but I remember those distinctive tastes very, very well. Since the Japanese beetles tend to destroy those very same roses, it's unlikely I'll make that kind (although the first bloom occurs just before the beetles emerge, so next your I may beat them to it) but I'll definitely make dandelion wine. I've read a few recipes online over the years, and I understand better why the flavor was so distinctive.
So obviously, I'm a science buff and will enjoy this hobby from that aspect probably almost as much as I'll enjoy the finished products! I also enjoy cooking, and I'm very good at differentiating flavors and picking out the many "notes" in foods and wines, so I know I'll love that part of it as well. I also like making pickles, so a bad batch may find some unusual repurposing I also just generally like being able to make anything from scratch, and anything that can help me be more self-sufficient, so wine making fits a lot of my interests. and that, too
So today, I'm going to start cleaning my carboys (they're a little dusty as I got them at an estate sale) while I prepare my first must of blueberries which are in season right now. I have H.E. Bravery's "Successful Wine Making at Home" and while the language is a little dated, it's very straightforward and easy to follow. I'm armed with all sorts of little jars of powders and things and a hydrometer and other fun toys.
I'm looking forward to playing "mad chemist" and enjoying the finished product as well as hanging around here and learning more. I'm very much at home with online forums and know how enjoyable it can be to share tips, ideas and hard won successes and failures with others who enjoy the same pursuits. Looking forward to that here!