Recent content by kevinlfifer

The Alicante grapes in Detroit are $45/lug

This juice is from CA, I think some vineyards grow more than they can ferment and juice processors get those grapes pretty cheap. If you use juice only, it makes a pretty thin wine. I add about 4 lugs of grapes to each drum. I also cut and toast my own oak and I think that makes a huge...

California Wine Grapes (Detroit) ordered 2 drums for me but they had to take a pallet of 4 drums as a minimum. SO there is a drum of Syrah and a drum of Grenache available. $495 each. Reach out to me or them if you are interested. I can help transport from their location to you (within...

I'm still a fan of juice. In the fall I add 4 lugs of grapes to a drum. In the spring I add concentrate as grapes from South America are not available. So far so good on the current batch. I lost 18 gal of it to my mooching brother who decided to start making wine last year.

I have not posted for quite some time. First, hello Rocky, hope all is well. I got a Malbec drum last spring, quite thin, drinks OK but not exciting. In 2018 i bought a drum of Amorone, It was spectacular. So I also see a bit of hit and miss on juice. Just picked up a drum of Chilean Cab...

I used a laundry sink turned 90 degrees. it works great. I added a bottle washer. I have shelves circling the room that are carboy thickness from the ceiling (16") to store unused carboys. Inexpensive and safer on carboys. The drawers hold about 5 cases (60) empty clean bottles each. I...

Got the faucet (hot only) on ebay $7, The bottle washer from labelpeelers clearance $3 7yrs ago. I use that thing to clean everything!

I did a drum of "Amarone" juice from Luva Bella in 2019. They told me it was a blend with higher SG to mimic the extra sweetness/sugar from dried grapes. I added 4 lugs of merlot grapes for a bump in body. Turned out wonderful. I would ad Zante currants. I used a lot more oak on it as well...

It reduces cloudiness from proteins. I have made some very good wine from those concentrates. I add dried fruit, Aldi's cherries or mixed berries. I don't depend on the recipe, but rather SG readings. I start reds @ 1.103

I did a 6 gal batch juice + gold raisins and light oak. I don't prefer whites but it disappeared.

Had a weak moment. We now have 2 Parti Cockers. Both will show post covid.

I have used a ferarri for at least a1000 bottles without any of the above issues. UNTIL TODAY, squirts a star pattern all over the place when the wine gets to the top of the bottle. Just ordered a Buon Vino Gravity Bottle Filler.

I toast my own oak now and for past 5 yrs. Makes a huge difference. Find a local lumber cutter and ask for white oak scraps. 3/8 x 3/8 strips in the oven at 400F till the fire alarm goes off

guess I'll start a forest fire. I could do a controlled burn on some of the ravine floor. worth the try

I have 2 acres of ravine and never morels. Nearly all oak and hickory trees. Found a morel once up by the house in the new mulch.