A True Wine Experience

While reading articles and tasting different varietals has certainly provided an avenue to further my knowledge of wine, I recently decided to explore another path for additional education and experience something that many of us often contemplate, yet rarely do.

This past July, I purchased a 50-50 blend of juice and concentrate of Trebbiano grapes, along with the other equipment and supplies necessary to produce wine. Although previously working at a winery, the experiences in the winery were limited to the basic procedures such as picking grapes and ensuring the packaged bottles were properly labeled but did not include any of the science behind it.

With my equipment and “grapes”, I began the experiment and followed a recipe found in one of the numerous home wine making books I had read. After several steps of sanitizing, adding yeasts, allowing for primary and secondary fermentation, racking, frequent additions of potassium metabisulfite and bottling… I had a finished product that I was excited to pour for my friends.

After bottling and a short aging period, I poured tastes for those brave souls willing to try my wine (pictured to the left is a photo of the bottling process). Although Parker may not give it a recommendation, the Trebbiano has great clarity, interesting nose and tastes like a very drinkable crisp table wine. Now I have 24 bottles to share throughout the upcoming months.

Cheers,
-Joe