Economy | VinoVerve

The Wine Name

By admin | October 15, 2010 - 7:12 am |October 15, 2010 Alicante, Carignane, cheap wine, Economy, fermentation, Gretchen Neuman, home winemaking, Red Handed, winemaking

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Gretchen Neuman
VinoVerve Editor

Maybe it is because I was always forced to title my papers in college and it often stretched my already exhausted and strained creativity, but when I make wine, I always feel it needs a name. That might not make any sense to anyone else out there, but it does to me. Heck, I want to name our house, though I have been forbidden to by Kevin and the girls (fun-suckers, I say).

So, I have been thinking very carefully about the name for this vintage (did you smell the burning?). Finally, I have arrived at a name and a label to go along with it.

I kinda like it alot.

Thoughts?
Red Handed

And yes, I know I still have a carmenere out there unnamed. I am still thinking on that one. I told you my creativity is limited.

Well, This Was Messier

By GMN | October 13, 2010 - 12:47 pm |October 13, 2010 Adventures, Alicante, Carignane, cheap wine, Economy, fermentation, home winemaking, wine

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Gretchen Neuman
VinoVerve Editor

Well, the bubbling of the fermentation tank finally stopped. So, it is time to move the wine to the carboy for secondary fermentation and aging. Previously, we have accomplished this task in about 5 minutes. That was before we stuff floating in the mix. Now I have stuff to fish out.

Ewww. Seedy. And a question to answer. What do I do with this stuff? Toss it right away? or try to press the remaining juice out of it. And of course, how to accomplish that as I still have not invested in a fruit press.

I went with trying to get the extra juice out. I used a familiar technique. A strainer and wooden spoon, like I use when making raspberry sauce, though I vow to now strain it so ruthlessly. I want juice, not pulp. It took a while and it was messy. I wish I had a compost pile for all the skins and seeds left behind but with my luck, it would attract rats which is a no-no here in the city. Much Messier

Next up I have to let it age a bit longer, because the flavor? kinda bitey. But because I have transferred the liquids into a new clean container (called racking) it is legally now wine, bitey wine, but wine, nevertheless. Now I have to figure out how I am going to clarify this stuff. Decisions, decisions…

In Defense of Sweet Wine

By admin | January 18, 2010 - 1:01 pm |January 18, 2010 cheap wine, Liebfraumilch, sweet, wine, wine snobs

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Gretchen Neuman
VinoVerve Editor

Despite my recent diatribe about the cloyingly sweet and nasty wine from my youth (pronounced ‘yute’ in my best “My Cousin Vinny” manner) I have largely been irritated with people who sneer at any sweet wine.

Via Wikipedia by User:Smb1001

When did sweet become bad? Our bodies are designed to find sweet appealing. Indeed, almost universally, sweetness has been associated with pleasure. Yet, when it comes to wine sweet has become synonymous with inferiority. But are sweet wines really inferior?

The answer is simple. Like everything else, it depends. Are you drinking Ripple or Canei? Or Chateau d’Yquem?

They all are sweet. Only one is quality wine. Can you guess which?

Ripple and related brands were an outgrowth of Prohibition which led to binge drinking as entertainment (just proof that so-called adults can’t resist snubbing their nose at authority any more than teenagers can). High alcohol fortified wines were produced cheaply and sold relatively (by bootlegging standards) so. Unfortunately, after Prohibition was over, they became the wine standard in the U.S. Because they were inexpensive, they became associated with the poor, the underaged and college students… Wine for people looking for a buzz.

German and Alsatian wines were as varied as any other wine became painted with the “cheap and inferior” label due to the proliferation and marketing of low-quality mass produced wines such as Liebfraumilch (which itself was a venerable German wine produced by the vineyards of the Church of Our Lady in Worms who’s reputation was destroyed by association).

Riesling, Muller-Thurgau, Gewurtztraminer all came to be seen as varietals that produced low quality, sweet wines. Do they deserve this reputation? It depends. The German government has changed their standards that designate what a quality wine is. They measure potential alcohol which is a measure of sugar. This does NOT necessarily translate into sweetness. Wines with balanced acid contents may even be perceived of as “dry”. And these new German wines have become very popular.

Too often I have heard people who claim to love wine turn their nose at wines with any lingering sweetness. Why? I suppose because it is not currently in vogue. But this is not always been the case. As for the other sweet wines? Ports, sherries, sauternes, tokaj’s, passito.. These can all be high quality wines who’s merits shouldn’t be judged by its sweetness.

So you don’t like sweet wine? Ok. Drink what you like. You will get no complaint from me. Particularly since you are leaving more of these jewels for me. I will try not to be too smug while you regale me with tales of things that you WON’T even try. After all, you left more for me to enjoy. But don’t denigrate their quality because of your personal opinion.

We Gather Together

By admin | November 23, 2009 - 1:15 pm |November 23, 2009 Beaujolais, holidays, home winemaking, local food, local wines, Locapour, Thanksgiving, wine, wine and food

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Gretchen Neuman
VinoVerve Editor

With Thanksgiving looming before us this week (Please keep your Christmas references at bay, please… I can only handle one holiday at a time), many people are trying to decide what to have for the big feast.

Turkey is the obvious choice (though venison would be traditionally correct as well, as the local Wamponoag people brought five deer to the feast)

One thing that we can be sure of? Those people celebrating their first feast of thanksgiving in Plymouth (or Virginia) dined on local food. There was no Beajolais Nouveau or Beaujolais Vieux for that matter…

What seems totally appropriate? Drinking local. During the colonial period, the Pilgrims would have had beer from home grown barley, or cider from home grown apples or even wine from from native grapes (fox grapes named for their flavor… think Concord and tell me if you can avoid thinking of grape jelly!) or other local fruit.

So my plan?

To drink as much local wine as possible… The thing holding me back? Well… my parents are hosting our feast.. and Dad does have all of those wine clubs that he is a member of… I will do my best to bring more wine than Lionstone International can send my father.

Firelands Wines

By GMN | October 28, 2009 - 9:53 am |October 28, 2009 Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Gewurtztraminer, Gretchen Neuman, home winemaking, ice wine, Kevin Neuman, local wines, Niagara Escarpment, Ohio, pinot grigio, pinot noir, Riesling, Road Trip!, Rory G, Vidal Blanc, Wineding Roads

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Gretchen Neuman
VinoVerve Editor

So after all that discussion of the Ohio and the Firelands, did I finally get around to tasting any wine? Of course I did!

Firelands Tasting Room I began with the Pinot Grigio, currently the most popular wine according to the ladies in the tasting room. I could taste green apple and grass. It was a little less crisp than some of the pinot grigios than I have had in the past, but this is a good thing… Sometimes, those wines get too bitey and for some reason that makes the hinge of my jaw hurt. (I never said that logic was my strong suit).

Next up was the Riesling. This was advertised as tasting of apples but I thought it had more of a honeyed flavor that reminded me of pears. This is made in what I consider a more traditional style, in that it was semi-sweet. I love the new modern dry Rieslings as well, but there is something to be said for the full, fruity and floral tones of the traditional method.

I even sampled the Gewurztraminer which I had tasted with Henry Bishop, Rory and Kevin (albeit not the same vintage). It is still an excellent blend of tropical fruits and rose petals. The best of two different worlds.

Home Wine Making at Firelands Additionally, I tasted both the Pinot Noir (a wine that I have enjoyed from Great Lakes regions, i.e., Niagara Escarpment) and the Cabernet Franc. The Cabernet was herbal and lightly spicy and nicely dry. The Pinot Noir was smoke with anise and cherry.

Additional offerings under the Firelands label include:

Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Chardonnay
Barrel Select Chardonnay
Rose de St. George
Country Estate Red
Walleye White and
Ice Wine

Additional wines from the other Lonz, Inc. labels were available including the Mantey, Dover, Mon Ami and Lonz (from grapes produced on Middle Bass Island). I picked up a Mantey Cream Sherry for my father. He has always been a fan of Ohio sherries and am looking forward to tasting it with it in the near future (most likely Thanksgiving).

Additionally, the winery is a source for homewine makers and sells juice in the autumn (until it runs out).

Party Time

By MTB | October 5, 2009 - 12:01 am |October 5, 2009 birthday celebrations, Gretchen Neuman, Rose Ole

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Gretchen Neuman
VinoVerve Editor

We toasted her with Rebel Girl and Rose Ole and a delicious cake with a buttercream peony. We told stories about our love for her and hers for us. Finally, at 1:00 am the birthday girl headed off to bed. Overwhelmed and happy.

I was glad that my wine was part of the celebration. Happy Birthday, Nanny.

— Posted From My iPhone

Is Wine An Appropriate Gift?

By GMN | September 30, 2009 - 3:55 pm |September 30, 2009 birthday celebrations, Chicago, Gretchen Neuman, local wines, Road Trip!, Rose Ole, Wineding Roads

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Gretchen Neuman
VinoVerve Editor

Happy Birthday, Nanny!

Frankly, I always think that wine is an appropriate gift. But in this case the Birthday Girl (which is always capitalized at my house) will be 102.

Yes, I have decided at the last minute to visit my grandmother for her birthday this weekend (though her birthday is tomorrow. GO Nanny!) This is why today’s post is so late. I have been calculating cost benefit analyses about whether to fly or drive (15 hour drive/flexibility of having own vehicle to explore wineries and cheapness even if including rental car and gas v. trying to get a reasonably priced flight less than 48 hours out) – driving won.

So if you know of any good wineries along major highways from Chicago to Virginia through the states of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland or Virginia please let me know..

I am reachable on Facebook and Twitter!

Oh, and Nanny will be getting wine…. and maybe I will be sharing with the cousins too….

Sparkling Cider

By admin | June 29, 2009 - 12:01 am |June 28, 2009 Gretchen Neuman, home winemaking

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Gretchen Neuman
VinoVerve Editor

Sometimes things get lost in my wine “cellar”. Even things that I brew myself.

And this is what happened with the Cider of Eden.

I was looking around for something unusual. And there it was…

So I opened it. There was a champagne-like “pop” as the cork came out. And the contents in the bottle began to fizz.

It fizzes as it poured into the glass. The taste? Apple-y. And bone dry. With a hint of ginger. (I fermented the cider with sliced ginger floating in it)

It seems a bit strong, but then I have only had a slice of toast and two chicken wings today so that might do it too.

I am definitely doing this again!

— Posted From My iPhone

Racking Rose

By admin | June 22, 2009 - 12:01 am |June 22, 2009 Gretchen Neuman, home winemaking, local wines

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Gretchen Neuman

VinoVerve Editor

I have been talking about how I should rack this rose for a while. And by “rack” I mean separating the clarified wine from the gunk on the bottom.

Racking the Rose

The truth is that I should have racked this baby about a week ago…. but truly, I was going to let the wine age this long at least anyway, so I am not entirely certain why I am being persnickety about. (Clearly I am a professional vintner with my la-di-dah attitude)

That being said, it was well past time today when we finally got to the task. In the end, the wine was still a bit cloudy. I am going to let it sit a couple of days and try again. I unfortunately think that I disturbed the sediment at the bottom. And this would not be good for the clarifying process. When push comes to shove, I probably need a filtering system. Sadly, that is NOT on the agenda at this point.

The good thing? For my Father’s Day gift to my Dad? He got my glass and plastic version of a barrel tasting. The wine was a bit cloudy, but dry, fruity with a full nose of strawberry. Overall? I am really pleased with what I have so far.

Kevin gets the rest

A New Winemaking Gadget

By GMN | June 3, 2009 - 12:01 am |June 3, 2009 Gretchen Neuman, home winemaking

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What is included

Gretchen Neuman
VinoVerve Editor

If two days ago you told me that you wanted to make wine at home but didn’t want to buy buckets and carboys and other equipment I would have told you that you were out of luck.

But then yesterday I found this new winemaking gadget. In a little bit of counterspace (which is still usually at a premium in most kitchens), you can make 9 liters of wine in just a couple of weeks. The winemaking kit is a scaled back version of the kits that I have been using. Bottles, labels, corks and caps are also included for about $160.

When you are done with your wine, you can purchase additional wine kits to continue your experimentation with home fermentation. Options include Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, White Zinfandel, Merlot and Cabernet/Shiraz. The refill kits cost about $60.

The plus side of this gadget is that it may spark a further interest in home winemaking. The downside? Well, the options on the refill kits are limited and a bit pricey. The kits that I have been using make more than double the volume of wine, come in almost unlimited options and start in price not much higher than the $60 listed here. But if space is a huge consideration, this system can’t be beat.

The Artful Winemaker is available at their website and also at the Wine Enthusiast.

Category Archives: Economy

The Wine Name

Well, This Was Messier

In Defense of Sweet Wine

We Gather Together

Firelands Wines

Party Time

Is Wine An Appropriate Gift?

Sparkling Cider

Racking Rose

A New Winemaking Gadget

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