Wednesday, April 27, 2011

It has been a while.

Hello everyone!!!
First off I must start out with an apology to those who check my blog for new material.  So I am sorry for not posting more often but I have been busy with school.
So this semester I am learning how to identify weeds, chemistry, vineyards and bugs.  I am enjoying my classes and I am trying to find a job as well to help bring in some cash.
So far I have applied to all of the wineries to look for any job including tasting room work to harvest help for next fall.  I have even considered applying to wineries in Woodinville Wa and in Canada to find work and experience making wine.
I have been very busy and I hope to stay that way this summer with a good job.
Toodles for now!

Friday, January 21, 2011

Back at it!

So I am now able to breathe a little and of course update all of you about what is going on.
Today I had a plant physiology test which I feel I have done well on.  So far three weeks of school have gone by and I am constantly on the move trying to learn everything that I can to better my knowledge and expertise in the field of viticulture and enology.
 My wine that I am making is almost done for the Cabernet Sauvignon (only need to bottle in a few days and then i will be entirely finished.)  As for the Chardonnay, well it is taking its time to go through the secondary fermentation process.  It will be really nice to have those done so I don't have to worry about those anymore.
 My next goal is to find a more consistent job in Walla Walla as for my job that I had was very seasonal so wish me luck as I go on the job search again!

Friday, December 24, 2010

Christmas visit in Walla Walla!!!!

Today my family and I got back from Walla Walla where I showed my sister around the city.  (The key points being my school and where I worked harvest at Tertulia Cellars.)  Then we went wine tasting and I was able to check off 3 more wineries from the list. (Long Shadows Vintners, Fort Walla Walla Cellars, and Cavu.)
   Long Shadows was my favorite of the three wineries.  All of their wines were outstanding and I loved the concept they had for the their winery.  This concept was to find the best winemakers and a varietal they are good at, and then have them make a wine from that varietal.   Each wine make then has a winery name for that varietal or blend of wine and then collaborates with the owners about the wine he or she has made. The name Long Shadows refers to the idea that they cast a "long shadow" across the wine industry in walla walla, and even the globe as they only have one American winemaker and the others coming from germany and france.  If you ever come to Walla Walla this is a must try place!
 Hoping you all are having a very happy holiday season!
 

  

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Happy Holidays!

Hello everyone I am really bad at this but have been busy. But now that I am done for the semester I have some time to update you all on what has been happening.
It was a good semester and I feel I did well.   I have some wine that I am making at my home and it is progressing very nicely.  The red wine is almost ready to bottle.  The Chardonnay on the other hand still has a lot of malolactic acid and is also really acidic.  So it probably will not be ready to drink for at least five to seven years.  But oh well that is how a lot of the wines in the walla walla valley are going to turn out due to the weather and how the grapes were just not getting there before it got cold.
I am looking forward to the next semester and the new year.  I have a new years resolutions list going to help make changes I feel I need to make in my life.  This will probably be the last time a post a blog before christmas and even the new year so I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Hello from the crazy world of wine!

So I know it has been a while (almost a month), so I thought that I would give you an update on what is happening in good ol' Walla Walla.  First off it is really pretty here in fall lovely golden leaves especially in the vineyards.  This weekend my parents came to visit me and we went to some wineries. They came by on saturday to see me cause I was pouring wine at a'Maurice winery.  Which was a lot of fun I spent the whole day talking about and pouring wine.
   In school we are working hard getting our projects together to get ready to present in about a week and a half or so and our wines for the school are coming along very nicely.  I have spent a lot of time there working with the instructor helping with whatever he needs help with.  I am doing well in school and found out that winemakers are in our own special class of insane.  Which made me laugh and say "yep I can totally see that."
As for work, harvest is sadly over I had a lot of fun working for Quentin and can't wait until he begins to blend the wines at Tertulia Cellars.
  I have now started my quest to taste at every winery in the Walla Walla valley.  And I will keep you all updated with a tally and which wines I have added to ones I have tasted.  So far I have tasted 26 of the 76 wineries on the Walla Walla Wine Alliance map.  If anyone wants one of these maps let me know and I can bring one home for you to have.
  I came down with a little cold earlier on friday and this weekend I am resting up some to try and get better so i can be in full health for school and what ever work may come my way.
I wish you all the best and I hope you all are doing well.

Monday, October 11, 2010

Punch Overs and Pump downs

LOL  It is actually Punch Downs and Pump overs but when you talk to winemakers and cellar rats we all mix up the two a bit. (since we say them so often)  Both are means of red wine skin Maceration.  Confused yet?  I would be but fortunately I know what this means. Maceration is the leaching of that beautiful deep red color you get when you drink a good red wine. (Word of the day for yalls)  This is also important in leaching the polyphenols or the tannins and flavor compounds out of the grape skins.  So overall a very important process that needs to be done in order to make a good red wine.
Well today I was at work and I did punch down and pump overs.  We use pump overs when the red wine is in a tank because a punch down would be near to impossible to punch down the cap of skins on the top and we do punch downs for the smaller bin sized fermentations.  Today was awesome because I ddi these pump overs with a beautiful background of a sunset in the vineyard.  :)  This to me is one of those moments that define wine and all that is has to offer to the world.
I also played in some must the other day and here is a picture of me doing so. (Sorry Megs wish you were here and I Love You!! Maybe next year?)

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Finally

After some frustration with the cable company I finally have my internet working again! :)
Now to the updates.
School is going well getting a little busy with work and school but that is the life of a winemaker. :)  We started harvest on wednesday and we are now about 30% done with our harvest.  On saturday I rehydrated yeast and added it to our Cabernet Sauvignon must!  Everything is soo much fun.  Some days I taste grapes and then the next day I am cleaning hoses and tanks.  I even got to play in the must a little bit. :)  I feel like I am constantly on the move.  Which makes any down time I have go really slowly.