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Measurements II

In an earlier post I estimated that a 240 gallon t-bin completely filed with must yields 165 gallons of wine. I've been trying to monitor this throughout harvest and so far I'd say 165 gallons is on the low end. In a recent pressing I estimate we yielded 195 gallons of clear wine/T-Bin. That seems high, so let's call it 190 -- still significantly more than 165. The data I'm seeing makes me want to estimate 180 gallons of wine from a full T-Bin. This is an important measurent when determining acid and water additions to the must. For adding yeast, nutrients, and So2, I believe you measure total volume including solids, so this ratio is not important there.

180 gallons means that the grapes are about 25% solids and 75% liquid.

A few French words I've learned this harvest

Delestage: A fermentation management process
Saignee: Bleeding juice
Batonage: Stirring lees
Elevage: Making wine

Harvest Update

All juice has been innoculated and we still have some Kanzler and Rosella's fermenting. We should be done pressing within two weeks.

Our last crush of the harvest

woo hoo!

This is wine making

Your truly enjoying dinner at Limon winemaker style (with Brenda and Michelle).

Kanzler pick

The lights are mounted on a trailer and towed by a tractor.

Kanzler pick

Andrew watches the pickers. They picked 4.1 tons in 90 minutes. It was some of the cleanest fruit we got. Credit goes to Steve Kanzler and his vineyard manager Eric. It should make great wine.

Punching Down SF Style

This is a compost dumpster overfilled with pomace and stems. You can see our new neighbors' campsite in the background..