Recent content by TemperanceOwl

Thanks for the tip and info.

Mind if I ask who your supplier is? I’m in NE Tennessee and haven’t been able to find many options for getting California grapes without paying as much in shipping as for the grapes. Do you receive them uncrushed, or crushed and frozen? I need them crushed and frozen. Thanks! I’d love to try a Zin!

You all inspired me this morning! I stopped and got a rack of baby back ribs on the way home from church and put them on my Kamado Joe this afternoon. Combined with a baked potato, mixed veggies and a Chilean Carmenere, it was a fabulous supper!

Same here on all your comments! I'm really sorry to see them go, and I had no idea there was a slump. There hasn't been a slump in my small corner of the market. I had ordered two of the RJS restricted quantities. Anybody have a recommendation on who else to try?

That sounds like fun! Are all of you up in CT, PA, and MD? I'm in northeast TN, close to VA and NC, and I haven't found any suppliers within driving distance.

I really hope that in a few months I start to see what the fuss is about for grape wines! I've had lots of positive feedback from the high end kits I've done, and hope that the extra work for fresh grapes turns out at least as good.

Thanks for the response, pgentile. I'll give it more time.

Neat workaround for a small batch! Thanks! Pgentile, how many were you trying to do when you found the milk crate method to cumbersome? I'd be doing around 130 lbs.

What's this workaround with milk crates?

Well, that's true. I've just never had a wine kit taste this rough at this point. Maybe I just don't know what to expect with fresh grapes.

My Chilean Carmenere has been under airlock and undergoing MLF for 2 full months now. I just tasted it and it is still VERY fizzy, and tart, with a sort of stem and seed flavor. :( I've seen other folks say MLF should take 4-6 weeks (6 gallons). I don't have testing equipment for MLF, and...

Dad and I racked my 2018 Chilean Cab/Merlot/Carmenere blend last night, and he said nearly the same thing. He puckered his mouth and said "WooHoo! That might be alright in two or three years." Kinda hurt my feelings. :-)

What do you all recommend to use to sanitize a brand new wooden wine press for use with wine that is already inoculated with MLF? My normal go-to sanitizer for kits and berries is K-Meta, but that'll kill the MLF. I was going to use Star San, but the bottle specifically said not to use on...

Johann, I love your name "Road Rash Red"! That's great. I can see a cartoon image of a big burly red haired Harley looking guy on my label, with a few scrapes and bruises. That is pretty cool to think of their journey. And they're finally here in my kitchen. Got the Carmenere lightly...

Thanks, everyone. The freeze/thaw explanation might be it... but the one surviving cardboard shipping box had obvious road rash. :-) The other three boxes didn't make it. But, whatever the cause, I have started it and it smells good and is going gang-busters. I hope it turns out well.