What's going on in your winery today..

[Cellar_Rat]

Had first taste of this years Merlot - it ready for the Xmas table!

[waggoner]

Just made another Ancient Orange mead...

[NorthernWiner]

Had 100 lbs frozen 2008 vintage Petite Verdot delivered last week from Napa Valley and just brought it in from the garage to thaw (it's currently -22 C here). I hope to start it on Wednesday.

I've never made Petite Verdot, so I have no idea what to expect. Most of it will undoubtedly be used for blending, though I may decide to bottle some as a varietal, depending how it turns out.

[goldseal]

I'm not at all jealous

All I have done here is clean a few bottles.

[koomber]

I'm not at all jealous

All I have done here is clean a few bottles.

Awww

Don't worry, the cold weather is due back at the weekend

[kampervan]

caley 80 on the boil at present

[NorthernWiner]

Just started a small 100 pound batch of Petit Verdot from frozen grapes (2008 vintage).

This stuff has some incredible color and I haven't even pitched the yeast yet. I plan to add some of the leftover skins to a WE limited edition Australian Petit Verdot (which I am now glad I procrastinated starting).

[lockwood1956]

Thats great colour extraction already dude....looking good

[NorthernWiner]

As I was picking up the frozen grapes from Joe (the dodgy grape guy with the lorry), I was thinking about you Bob.

[lockwood1956]

lol

too funny!

did he ask where your fat Brit mate was?

[NorthernWiner]

No... lol. The only thing he mentioned was that he thought my Toyota was a "step down" from that little sports car (never mind that the little sports car manoeuvered like a pig on roller skates under icy conditions).

[koomber]

One of the guys at my work drives a BMW Z3 (or some little BMW Roller Skate) missed 5 days of work because of ice. He lives in the centre of Aberdeen.

Another guy at my work lives further north than inverness, had 2 foot drifts and didn't miss a day of work. He drives a Skoda Octavia and the tires were very nearly bald.

Sports cars do not do well in snow and ice

[mark g]

Just started two gallons of nescafe coffee wine
it's fermenting very well

[spritzer]

Just started two gallons of nescafe coffee wine
it's fermenting very well

Is this stuff any good ?
I have had it on my "to do" list for a couple of years, and not managed to make it yet

[lockwood1956]

I made it once..........


it is better stabilised and sweetened, as it was extremely bitter. It was interesting to see that wine could indeed be made from instant coffee, but I wont be making it again anytime soon.