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Notes From the
Vintner
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Welcome
to our column. We hope that you will return to
learn interesting notes on wine, and related
subjects. Wine is a great gift from God to be used
for the enjoyment of man. It is a food, and should
be treated as such. It is meant to lift up the body
and lighten the soul. 12/01/06
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Well we
made it thru another year...
and it
has been a good year. Oh there have been bumps in the road,
but over all, a good year. There are just a few weeks to
finish up the projects of the year. Here at the winery, we
are planning to remodel the sales room and the first bed and
breakfast, and remodel the bottling and kitchen also. So
you see, there is always something to do.
BUT, do not get rapped up in projects, and forget to
care for the wine. It is easy to put the wine to rest and
then forget to check on the wine. Sometime we go a long
time before we check on the wine and find that there is a
problem that could have been taken care of before it became
a large problem. So remember to check your wines often.
Keep the SO2 level up and keep the barrels and carboys
topped up. Some wine makers so as to have a small amount of
wine in reserve to be used to top off the vessels as the
wine rests. This is a good practice and insurance to keep
your wine in good shape.
The weather is getting just right to prune. Remember, when
you prune in cold weather, you can bring a bottle of wine to
have with lunch and a bit before and a bit after.
If you have any skips in the vineyard, this would be good
time to make a few cuttings to grow some replacement plants.
You want your vineyard to full of wines, and not have
missing plants throughout the vineyard. I have know of some
people would replace a vine in a good vineyard with a vine
that was a different grape. You should never do this, as
there is no reason acceptable for this practice.
So as we end this fine year, let us rejoice in what we have
done, and make plans for a better year in 2007. Do you
think it is too early to toast the New Year….This
Irishman does not think so…Let us find a glass and a
good bottle of wine and toast each other. May God bless
us all.
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