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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. 06/1/03
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The
vines are full of leaves, and the grapes are on their
way…and
I am still behind. The older I get the more behind I get. I
have heard these words before, and now I live them. There is
so much in life that I wish to do. This is what living is
about. Living an active life, doing what makes you happy and
that gives you great joy. And doing all these things with a
friend makes for a good life. And what a fine friend "wine"
is to your life. Wine, if enjoyed properly, will be your
friend in good times and in bad.
So let us pour a
glass, and enjoy these notes.
If the vines are
full of leaves, and the grapes are on their way…then it
is time to prepare the cellars for the harvest. Yes, now is
the time…you do not have as much time as you think.
Enter the wine room of your home and look around. Are you
happy with what you see? If so, then go back to pouring a
glass…and enjoy. But if you see work to do, then lets
get started. How does your crushing equipment look, and your
storage tanks? Is everything in working order? Do you need
to repair any item? If all is well, then take a bit of time
and wash the equipment off with a little SO2 water. Make
sure that the fermentation vats are good and clean with
clean sides and bottom. Also make sure that the sides are
clean. It is important that the cellar area is clean. It
wines needs a clean home, and the area around the home needs
to be clean. Make sure that the barrels are in working
order. Clean and swell them if needed.
How about your
yeast supply, and the other items needed? It is time to
order any item that you are out of or in short supply. Yeast
needs to be stored in the icebox.
Now that I have
you fired up about getting your cellar in order, I better go
and get started on mine. You do not mind if I take the
bottle of wine with me, do you??? My cellar is a bit larger
than yours. Cheers
! ! !
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