Recent content by jbertoletti

I have a couple grapevines that I have been growing for a couple years, and I just ordered a few more. I initially was going with the stake and string method, but my yard is so small it wasn't really feasible. Last weekend, I went crazy and bought a bunch of pieces of 4 by 8 foot cedar...

Thanks for all of the advice. I think I need to do a little more reading and purchase a ph meter. I just opened a bottle of the 2012 chardonnay, and it was really good, the off flavors were gone. I think I'm going to drink what I have while I know it's good, then look into plans for aging...

From what I have read, you don't have to do that for the synthetic corks. I've had some bottles for three years, and have not seen any evidence of the synthetic corks drying out.

I will check the package when I get home. I use the handheld corker. How long do you let your wine age in the bottle?

I use synthetic corks, and I use a mix of old and new bottles. I clean the bottles with the powder cleaner from the wine store, and then I sanitize the bottles and corks with the starsan. I store the bottles upright in my basement at a fairly constant temperature. It varies a little due to...

I've been making wine from grapes since 2011. I add Camden and yeast, but that is about it other than oak chips. I let it sit in the demijohn's for almost a full year before bottling, and rack around 4 times during the year. I don't add anything before bottling. I have Shiraz, Cabernet...

I have an opportunity to buy used bourbon barrels from a brewery in Chicago this weekend. They have several 53 gallon bourbon barrels that were used to barrel age beer of some sort. They are being sold for $50. I was wondering are these good to age wine in, or would they be used up, or not...