Helping a new winemaker - Cab Franc Barrel

[NorCal]

MLF is done, racked the barrel, and a few carboys. Wine tastes excellent and was as clean a racking as I’ve ever seen due to how good the grapes were. We bottled a case of wine for them to use as topping, with the cutest dog in the world supervising.

 

[NorCal]

I've been visiting my neighbor and tasted the wine the other week. It's tasting nice. He has stayed up on the topping and additions. He doesn't have anything to blend with, so I think it is going to be a standalone, unless I want to donate some of my bottled Petit Verdot / Petite Sirah. I've been encouraging him to get his equipment, so he will be independent of my gear, so I have been giving him links to the items I would get. I created the below drawing to give him an idea on how I go about bottling a barrel. He will have around 375 bottles to do, so it makes sense to set up a little production line. I like to have 6-7 people. The bottle carriers are wooden crates I made to pass the bottles between stations. It serves two purposes; makes sure one person doesn't get way ahead of the next station and when someone gets up and knocks the table, we don't tip over bottles.

 

[Kraffty]

Like a good neighbor....norcal is there.....

 

[4score]

What a great neighbor!

 

[NorCal]

Went over to the neighbor to see how he did on converting the shed into a wine area and give the barrel a taste. I wish I took some pictures (I’ll do it next time I go over there). It is awesome. It’s one of those, if $ were no object and you picture what you would want the space to look like, this is what it would be.

The barrel, which is 100% low brix Cab Franc from the yard, tasted excellent. He used medium toast French oak spirals, which complements the cranberry notes from the Cab Franc. He then talked about blending it, although he has nothing made that could be blended with it. I know he would like a bigger, darker wine. I’m trying to convince him to leave it alone. He will probably never make a single varietal Cab Franc again and to use this wine as a baseline wine. I guess the barrel could be split and add some commercial PV to part of it.

 

[ibglowin]

Thats just it. Cab Franc is not supposed to be a monster wine. Its more about finesse and restraint and not muscle or brawn or in your face tannin.....

Would love to see pics of the space!

 

[Venatorscribe]

Keep encouraging him to maintain it as a single varietal Cab Franc. Cab Franc's is such smooth, beautiful wine. It will just keep improving with age and it will become that style he wants.

 

[NorCal]

I sent him a follow-up text on what a great job he did on the space and he responded with liking the idea to keep this year a single varietal wine. Wait to you see this place, pretty awesome.

 

[crushday]

@NorCal This whole string in an example of your incredible influence. Good job!

Looking forward to any images available to visualize the new space of your friend!

See you soon…

 

[NorCal]

We picked a date to bottle, near the end of August. If I don’t get over before then, I’ll be sure to take pictures of his set-up, as well as bottling.

I gave him a list of stuff and links to purchase stuff needed; bottles, corks, caps, labels. All-in-one, bottle washer, bottle tree, corker, label aligner, hot plate, folding tables and chairs. Anything he doesn’t acquire, I’ll bring over. We will be doing 350 bottles and should be able to average 2 bottles a minute, once everyone learns their station.

 

[crushday]

label aligner,

Can you post a link to the label aligner? Or is this the one of your own design? If the latter, I’d like to commission @NorCal to build me one. PM me the price if you’d accept.

 

[sour_grapes]

Can you post a link to the label aligner? Or is this the one of your own design? If the latter, I’d like to commission @NorCal to build me one. PM me the price if you’d accept.

Don't forget @joeswine 's miter box idea: when good wines gone bad

 

[NorCal]

Can you post a link to the label aligner? Or is this the one of your own design? If the latter, I’d like to commission @NorCal to build me one. PM me the price if you’d accept.

I did make one and still using it today after a few thousand bottles have gone through it. I would however recommend this one. I haven't used it, but @4score has and he says it does a good job.

 

[Ajmassa]

Can you post a link to the label aligner? Or is this the one of your own design? If the latter, I’d like to commission @NorCal to build me one. PM me the price if you’d accept.

In the meantime you can just use the glass seam that runs perfectly vertical up the bottle. Makes for a quick & efficient way to keep labels straight.

*(except on tapered bottles. They can be a royal pain to keep labels aligned)

 

[4score]

We ended up buying a second Label Wizard to speed the process!

 

[NorCal]

Bottling set for tomorrow. I asked if he was able to get anyone to help. He said, I have 10 people coming. Ok then, I think we are set. I'm going over tonight to make sure all the equipment works, wine is racked and SO2'ed. Pics of the winery as promised:

 

[Bmd2k1]

Bottling set for tomorrow. I asked if he was able to get anyone to help. He said, I have 10 people coming. Ok then, I think we are set. I'm going over tonight to make sure all the equipment works, wine is racked and SO2'ed. Pics of the winery as promised:
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Dig it!

 

[NorCal]

Around 350 bottles done, good time had by all. Great host with a wonderful brunch. Some more pics.

 

[NorCal]

I was driving in the car this weekend when I got a call from my old neighbor. He said he brought a few bottles to a wine event that included commercial and home winemakers. Out of 100 bottles, his was chosen as the winner! Crazy. I'm glad I saved the bottles he gave me : )