I got ahead of myself on the last post describing the building but I wanted to introduce it to everyone as construction began. Backing up a bit...
Bringing Home the Grapes
8.29.10
When we got home we unloaded the macrobins into the chilled trailer.
8.29.10
View inside the trailer after the 265 gallon tanks and macrobins holding our grapes were loaded.
I hustled up to Linweld in Sioux Falls to pick up our CO2 and Nitrogen tanks. We will use the CO2 to push oxygen out of the tanks before we do any transfers to protect from oxidation. We will also use the CO2 when the transfer has finished. We will use the Nitrogen to sparge our wine bottles before we bottle. We have a love-hate relationship with oxygen...
Our First Crush
One of our favorite things about our site is our neighbors grazing cattle and calves. So peaceful...
Mom working the Max Tapener to tie up the vines, we couldn't do this without our family. The weather was crazy that night... A change is a comin'! (Fall)
They sure have grown! These are the Frontenac vines on the Knoll.
My nephew running in the rain...
Not the most ideal situation, such is life, but we made it work!
What's at the end of the rainbow?
Will! putting Frontenac Gris grapes into the press! ;o) Cheesy. But I had to go there...
Will testing the brix (sugar) in the Frontenac Gris juice after it was pressed.
Adjusting the crusher/destemmer for the Frontenac.
Will describing the process.
It was a long night, but we accomplished much. La Crescent and Marquette to process the next morning!
8.31.10
Sunflower at the entrance of the vineyard and winery.
La Crescent being pressed!
River, my nephew, catching the last of the juice... Precious.
Things are moving quickly! Hard to keep up, will have more to come soon!
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