Recent content by rahulbr

Curious as well! A distiller in my town is offering used ex-bourbon staves and even ex-rum staves. I've had a good bourbon barrel aged red Woods Family's Against the Grain Shop | Wood Family Vineyards but would love to know if other's have done this with red wine and had positive (or negative)...

Check out Midwest Barrel Co Barrels and I believe code WELCOME10 or 10OFF may get you 10% off too. Their wine barrels are 59/60 gallon size but their bourbon barrels come in 5, 10, and 15 gallon sizes for under $200 per barrel.

Thanks Chuck, taking a look at that thread. Just the inspiration I needed!

Hmm...interesting. So after pressing the white grapes and getting juice that I'll ferment on its own (e.g. Traminette or Kerner), I add the skins to the Marquette must and ferment with them? I like this idea a lot. It may help make up for lack of tannin / body in the Marquette, or even...

Has anyone barrel fermented hybrid grapes (rose or white wine), or have general advice on barrel fermentation? I'm in SE Michigan, and can borrow freshly dumped 53 gallon barrels fresh dumped Bourbon and Rye barrels. Not allowed to cut the tops off, so red wine barrel fermentation is out of...

Thanks Salcoco!

I'm thinking to do the same, since I've planted way too much Marquette. This is my first year ever trying this, but I'm thinking to co-ferment one of the following with a Marquette rose, at 10%: Vignoles, very little of this Traminette (have a lot of this) Kerner (also have a lot of this)...

PS avoid Napa! It'll be crazy. And in Sonoma county, time it so you get there early and avoid Sonoma town proper and Santa Rosa as well. Just head towards Healdsburg, then explore small wineries around there. Or in Glen Ellen area. Sonoma town is bad traffic and crowds wise, Napa county as a...

I live in San Francisco, make wine each year from grapes I pick or get from Oak Barrel Winecraft in Berkeley, and can personally recommend the places below. @wood1954 please message me if any questions at all! Your posts on Marquette and much else have been really helpful, as I'm growing a bunch...

Thanks as well @Rice_Guy I've just bought this wine press Marchisio Fruit Press | Wine Press | Ratcheting Basket Press | #35 | MoreWine and am considering a bladder press last minute, if it's just not enough. My hope is it will be enough, if I stagger pressing of whites and reds. I've actually...

@winemaker81 thank you very much for the wake up call! I need to increase capacity by a lot. I've got 1/3 of a garage to work with, but let's see. Time to get planning and purchasing.

Paulie thanks for sharing! I’m trying this Deluxe 10 Gallon 1 Weld Volume Marked Pot and the 5 gallon pot I linked above for this year’s harvest. I’ve got between 150 and 200 vines producing this year, and want to get equipment that will last for decades, hence the focus on steel. Anyone have...

Good deal right now, only $8 for a 5 gallon (20 quart) stainless steel brew pot at Adventures In Homebrewing: 5 Gallon Stainless Steel Brew Pot I'm going to try it after harvest (most likely aromatic hybrid whites like Traminette) and see how it goes

Thanks Rice_Guy! Glad to be here, so much to learn and I hope to contribute as well.

Hi and welcome! I planted a small vineyard in SE Michigan recently too (St. Clair County, on a 1/4 of an acre). Japanese Beetles will be horrible if it's anything like the last 2 years. Just carry a bucket of soapy water and knock them off. I've gotten my ~180 vines through the last 2 winters...