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THE STOMPER
The Monthly Winemaking Newsletter of grapestompers.com
September, 2002 Issue #26
http://www.grapestompers.com 1-800-233-1505
Hours: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Eastern Monday - Friday
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Welcome to the latest issue of "THE STOMPER", a newsletter
of winemaking hints and other wine-related articles.
You are receiving this newsletter because you requested it.
Instructions to cancel are at the end of this newsletter.
Feel free to pass along this newsletter to your winemaking
friends; we only ask that it be sent in its entirety.
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IN THIS ISSUE
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=> Feature Article - How to Fix "Rotten Egg" Smell
=> New Products
=> Bonnie's Bin - Start Your Own Tasting Group
=> This Month's Specials
=> Tom's Cellar - grapestompers 5th Annual Wine Tasting
=> Feedback from Our Customers
=> Guest Column - Improve Your Wine Kit
=> How to Be Featured as our Guest Columnist
=> Corky's Winemaking Definition
=> Subscribe/Unsubscribe Information
*^* Hot Tips are sprinkled throughout the newsletter
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FEATURE ARTICLE: How to Fix "Rotten Egg" Smell in Wine
By Brant Burgiss, Editor
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It's a real STINKER of a problem... you've just racked your
wine, and it smells like rotten eggs!
Should you throw out the batch and start all over? Or is
there something you can do to prevent pouring your wine
down the drain?
Luckily, the problem of hydrogen sulfide is solvable -
provided you act quickly, that is!
Learn how to treat this smelly problem by reading our
latest winemaking article, at:
http://www.grapestompers.com/articles/hydrogen_sulfide.htm
The article provides a little background on possible causes
and offers tips to help prevent H2S in the first place.
OH! And before I forget, please be sure to attend our
5th Annual Wine Tasting in Laurel Springs, NC on Sunday,
October 6th. Read Tom's article below for more details.
Here's to you... and Happy Winemaking!
You can write to Brant at webmaster@grapestompers.com
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NEW PRODUCTS
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Here is a list of products recently added to our catalog:
- Item #2203 Clear gallon jug, with screw cap, $3.00
- Item #2200 Amber gallon jug, with screw cap, $5.06
- Item #2120 Wine bottles, 150 ml (5 oz), Flint with
screw on cap, 12 per case, $6.77
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BONNIE'S BIN: Start Your Own Tasting Group
By Bonnie Brown, Manager
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Tom said he was going to write about our Annual Wine
Tasting so I should write about a smaller one that we both
attended recently. So here goes...
Everyone should have a tasting group that meets every
couple of months to share all that we have made over that
time. What a collection we had. It was WONDERFUL! What a
treat to see the labels, pride, and hear the tales from
each! How wonderful to hear the excitement of the others.
We had one couple who was starting their first batch and
the other three couples had been into this hobby for about
one year. It was also fun to be able to just sit back and
enjoy tasting wines! What a great treat that was for Tom
and me. NO work, NO phone! Just enjoy the people and the
wines. To live like everyone else does!!! We are so very
fortunate in that great friends are made in our business.
I would like to again thank our friends, Edie and Jim, for
hosting our gathering. Tom and I are quite proud that we
were in on getting these people into the hobby of
winemaking. Good things spread to friends far and wide.
It was such fun to hear many different thoughts and find
that we are not so different after all! We had 6 couples
and it was just right. Our host had been working on his
new English Pub. What a pub! We had been hearing about it
for months so I was thrilled to finally get to see it.
Words cannot describe it. Check out the photos we took
that evening in the "Customers" section of our web site:
http://www.grapestompers.com/customers/wine_photos_2.htm
It shows a hint of what we got to enjoy. We lined ALL of
those bottles up and started tasting! We had so many there
was not room for me to have a full glass of any one wine!
We are talking about doing this tasting often but it will
now have to wait until later this fall. Tom and I will be
very busy getting prepared for our 'big' wine tasting in
October (see Tom's article below)! Now, you heard me say
'GET PREPARED'! I swear I am not going to let any detail go
until the last minute this year like I have for the past
three!! I swear that I am not going to let Tom put
anything off until the last minute like has happened for
the past 4!! WE are going to be prepared and enjoy this
one more than any of the others! If I repeat this often
enough it will become true, right???? I swear we will be
prepared, I swear we will be prepared.... and time will
tell!
Here's to a great September ya'll...
May you tip your glass in health and clink it with good
friends.
Bonnie
Life is too short... to drink bad wine... so make your own!
You can write to Bonnie at bonnie@grapestompers.com
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THIS MONTH'S SPECIALS
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grapestompers' specials for September 2002 are:
Save 10% or more on 3 different wine kits
AND
Save 12% on one of our bottling spigots
AND
Save over 14% on our most popular hand corker
AND
Save over 10% on the wine thief / test jar combo
AND
Save up to 12% on selected winemaking chemicals
AND
Save over $70 on the purchase of a
Complete Winemaking Starter Kit
which includes a RED or WHITE Concentrate
(see wine kit selection below)
Item # Description Reg. Price SPECIAL
3132 CC Valpolicella 78.76 69.99
3227 VDV White Bordailles (Bordeaux) 39.38 34.99
3230 CC Chamblaise (Chablis) 58.85 52.99
2208 Bottling Spigot (w/gaskets) 2.73 2.39
2262 Portuguese Hand Corker 15.13 12.99
2598 Wine Thief / Test Jar Combo 6.69 5.99
2731 Campden tablets, approx 100 tabs 2.10 1.89
2732 Potassium Metabisulfite, 4 oz. 1.82 1.59
3200 Complete White Wine Starter Kit 246.68 175.00
3100 Complete Red Wine Starter Kit 259.79 185.00
The three wine kits shown above will make about 30 - 750 ml
bottles of great wine in as little as 28-45 days.
Wine kit abbreviations explained:
CC = Cellar Classic wine kit
GC = Grand Cru wine kit
VDV = Vino del Vida wine kit
CSP = Cru Select Platinum wine kit
CSG = Cru Select Gold wine kit
Here's what you get with the COMPLETE Starter Kit:
If choosing the Complete WHITE Kit, your choice of either:
Fume Blanc, Piesporter, or Chenin Blanc VDV concentrate
If choosing the Complete RED Kit, your choice of either:
Valpolicella, Shiraz, or Cabernet/Merlot VDV concentrate
PLUS ALL THESE GOODIES:
Tom's Winemaking Video Bottle Rinser
Fermenter Bucket with lid Three-Piece Airlock
6-Gallon Glass Carboy Carboy Brush
Bung (stopper) Bottle Filler
Five feet of vinyl tubing B-Brite Sanitizer
Portuguese Hand Corker FermTech AutoSiphon
2 Cases of 750-ml Bottles Long Handled Spoon
Bottle Washer Adapter Brass Bottle Washer
Bottle Drainer, 45 station
AND YOU GET THE FOLLOWING ITEMS FREE ($26.59 value):
- Free Wine Labels (text of your choice)
- Free T-shirt (sizes available: M, L, or XL)
- Free Corks (30 corks, enough for one batch)
Just think: This complete kit offers EVERYTHING a brand-new
hobbyist would need to begin making his own wine. All you
need to decide is which wine kit you want!
And don't forget... you can always return your winemaking
video and receive a credit for $19.95 on your next
purchase... that's like getting the video for free! All
we ask is that you return it in good condition.
This is the best deal we've ever offered on a complete kit,
so don't miss out... order one for yourself or a friend
today. Ask for RED Complete Kit # 3100 or WHITE Kit # 3200
and be sure to let us know which wine concentrate you want,
as well as the size T-shirt you need.
NEW! Now you can "personalize" your Complete Kit -
Let's say you don't need or want some of the items that
normally come with the Complete Kit... just give us a call
at 1-800-233-1505 and let us know which items you don't
need, and we will adjust the price of the equipment kit
accordingly. Likewise, if you'd like a different wine kit,
just let us know and we can adjust the price.
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TOM'S CELLAR: grapestompers Hosts 5th Annual Wine Tasting
by Tom Burgiss, Owner
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Mark your calendar for Sunday, October 6 for our 5th Annual
wine tasting. The event will be held at 3:00 PM at the
Burgiss Barn in Laurel Springs, NC.
Everyone should be here for this one, because we will have
some new wines for you to taste! The advantage of a wine
tasting, of course, is the opportunity to taste different
wines and try them out before purchasing a bottle or making
a batch on your own. Some you will like, and others may
not suit you, but at least it will expose you to different
varieties and maybe help you pick out a new wine to make
and enjoy in the future. Those who cannot come, we urge you
to attend any wine tastings close by your own home or
state. So mark your calendar now!
We're looking forward to seeing you, and hope you will
enjoy the wine tasting, food, and live music. Admission
is free, but you must BYOG (bring your own wine glass).
If you plan to come, please RSVP by calling 800-233-1505 or
sending an e-mail to tom@grapestompers.com. Let us know
how many are in your party, so we'll be sure to have enough
wine and food for everyone.
To allow the staff of grapestompers a chance to mingle and
chat with fellow vintners, the retail store will not be
open for direct sales that day. However, if you call in or
place an online order before September 24, we'll get your
winemaking supplies together and have them ready for pickup
at the wine tasting.
It's a great way to save on shipping costs!
If you'd like to arrange this pickup service on the day of
the wine tasting, just let us know you want a 'Wine Tasting
Pickup' when filling out the comments section on the online
order form.
*-----------------HOT TIP------------------*
Having trouble lifting a carboy full of wine?
Try this trick:
The best carboy lifter I have ever used is a
milk crate, the plastic kind that is designed
to hold 4-1 gallon milk jugs. A 5 gallon carboy
fits nicely and it not only gives you handles
to hold onto, but gives some protection to the
carboy as well. Speaking as someone who has
broken a couple that's a pretty good thing.
Our thanks to Paul Downs for this great tip.
Have a tip you'd like to submit?
Send it to tips@grapestompers.com
*-----------------HOT TIP------------------*
Here is a preview of some of the wines that will be here
for your tasting pleasure. Enjoy the fruit of the vine and
the autumn colors in the mountains of North Carolina.
Pinot Noir
I finally was able to age it for 12 months - it gets gone
too quickly! A medium bodied red wine. It is delicate,
yet rich in complexity with a warm, oaken flavor. Certainly
one of my favorites!
Amarone Classico
This Cru Select wine is rich in raspberry, blackberry and
cassis flavor and during a recent mini-wine tasting up in
the mountains (see Bonnie's article) in Ashe County it took
top comments from the crowd.
Coteau-sur-Mer
This is a lighter wine that is claret styled with a taste
of plum and a hint of chocolate.
Vieux Chateau du Roi
This classic, full-bodied red wine is deep in color,
carrying a warm nicely rounded bouquet of ripe berry
fruit.
Chenin Blanc
A white wine that makes France proud. It is refreshingly
crisp and dry, with a subtle notes of honey and fruit.
Peach-Chardonnay
This wine is considered a "wine cooler" because it only has
6 to 7% alcohol, but it's delicious and the perfect gift
for a sweet wine lover. Served chilled.
White Bordeaux
This brother to White Burgundy is one that everyone
fell in love with at last year's wine tasting. It is a
dry, medium bodied, Frenchstyle white with citrus and
herbal notes and medium oak.
White Zinfandel
Our best-selling wine is an off-dry, light bodied
Californian-style blush that's best served chilled to
emphasize its strawberry notes and bright flavor. We
will serve the dry version and will sweeten to YOUR taste
on site!
These are just a few of the wines we'll be serving at this
year's tasting; there'll be lots more wines there too! We
invite any and all home winemakers to come and share your
abilities with a great hobby of winemaking.
Drawings will be held throughout the evening for door
prizes. It really pleases me to see so many folks
participating in our wine tasting... over 200 people
attended last year!
Rain or shine, cold or hot, we will be expecting you to
join us. As per usual, we'll start in the barn... The
folks who have supported us throughout the year will be
there to help Bonnie and me on this venture. Please
remember to bring your own wine glass for tasting!
Music and food will be there to help entertain you and
again Jimmy Benge will fix up a bit great-tasting food that
will please you just like he's been doing for years.
Note from Tom:
You might want to come early on wine tasting day for a
Sunday Buffet at Burgiss Barn on October 6th. We started
serving lunch buffets this year on Memorial Day Weekend and
will continue this weekly buffet through the middle of
October.
The lunch buffet always offers 4 meats, 6 veggies, drinks,
choice of dessert, and most importantly... fresh baked hot
buttered rolls that are thrown to you! Tax, tip and all
the above for $6.95 period! We serve the buffet from 11:30
AM to 2:00 PM. It must be good because folks keep coming
back!
Learn more about the Burgiss Barn here:
http://www.burgissbarn.com/
You can write to Tom at tom@grapestompers.com
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FROM OUR CUSTOMERS
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As you might imagine, our office receives quite a bit of
correspondence - mostly through e-mail - here are some
comments we've recently received:
If I understand correctly, you get FREE labels!!?? How can
that be? No one that I know of does such a courteous
service anymore. Have I found a new supplier? If the label
offer is true, then I would love to have them...
By the way, I was very impressed with your newsletter.
Straightforward, personal and very interesting info. It
didn't seemed to be bombarded with all sorts of marketing
fluff. Great job!
Hey, if your products are nice and the prices are
attractive, people will keep coming back anyway, right?
I look forward to doing business with you in the future!
Thanks again and have a GREAT weekend!!
-- Wayne Hemrick
Dawsonville, GA
[Editor's note:
Wayne is right! With each purchase of a grape concentrate
from grapestompers.com, you get 30 free wine labels. Just
go to http://www.grapestompers.com/cat104.htm to see them.]
Tom,
I really appreciate the help. Your service is superb!!!!
Thanks again!
-- Bob Chambless
Lizella, GA
Tom,
It was really a pleasure speaking with you on Friday,
August 10. Your information on the gravity-fed bottle
filler was enough for me to purchase it and a floating
thermometer, which I have received today. It actually
arrived sooner than I had expected.
I am receiving your newsletter monthly for the last two
months and have gone into the archives and have printed off
all of the past newsletters which I find interesting and
informative since I have only been making homemade wine
for the last three months.
Keep up the good work and customer service.
-- Greg Bonier
Newnan, GA
Bonnie,
Just a thank you note... Received my package in perfect
condition. Cheers!
-- Mark Evans
Dear Tom and Bonnie,
Just wanted to drop you a note to let you know how we did
at the Indy International Wine Competition...
We entered 4 of our fruit wines and we were awarded 4
medals. We were so surprised!! All of our wines were
made with fresh fruit and supplies that we purchased from
your fine establishment.
Pear-------------- Gold Medal
Blackberry ------- Silver Medal
Wild Raspberry --- Silver Medal
Strawberry ------ Silver Medal
Thanks for all your help and support.
Your friends,
-- Brenda & Roger Hasler
Sullivan, IN
Bonnie:
My order was at my front door when I arrived home from
work yesterday. The labels look fantastic! As always,
many thanks for the best service ever!!
-- Steve Kerchner
Highland, IL
Bonnie & Tom,
Thanks for the great service -- It's great to have you
folks in my "back yard".
You have one of the most enjoyable and informative web
sites I have found-- keep up the good work and how about
another quiz?
-- Dan Veilleux
Janet Montgomery
Vilas, NC
[Editor's note:
We're currently working on another winemaking quiz, so get
ready to test your skills!]
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GUEST COLUMN - Improve Your Wine Kit
by Don Schiller, Minnesota
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Wine kits are great, but some are better than others. One
reason wine kits are great because they are available
anytime of the year. You get grape juice all ready for that
magical change to wine - just add water and yeast. But
some wine kits could use some improvement. Let's look at
some ways:
Wine kit basics
The better the kit, the better the wine. That is a good
rule. The higher grade (and priced) kit generally have a
higher percentage of grape juice and so are closer to the
fresh pressed grapes. Those kits that are more
concentrated and lighter will require more water. You
may find these kits just a little thinner body and flavors.
Go high end when you can.
Improve flavor
Wine kits are designed to make approximately 5-6 gallons of
wine at about 12% alcohol. Change the amount of water or
juice and you change those numbers.
NOTE: you should never modify kits more than a couple
percent. If you remove some juice (called a reserve)
before you add the water and reduce the amount of water
slightly you will reduce the amount of wine to be bottled.
Now, after fermentation is complete and after potassium
sorbate has been added, add the juice back to the wine.
This will add more body, sweetness and flavor to the lower
alcohol wine. Works great with a Riesling and a Gewurtz.
Doesn't work as well with reds as you don't want sweet red
wine. Experimentation may be the key to find your best
reserve quantity and which wines work best with a reserve.
*-----------------HOT TIP------------------*
Ever been tempted to use bread yeast in
your wine, to save a trip to the store?
Don't do it. Bread yeast (even some beer
yeasts) weren't designed to take the high
levels of sugar and alcohol that wine
demands, and they will result in off-tasting,
weak, and syrupy wines.
Have a tip you'd like to submit?
Send it to tips@grapestompers.com
*-----------------HOT TIP------------------*
Consider additives to improve flavor. Simple additions like
oak to a wine will add complexity and enhance flavors.
Toasted French oak in a red wine adds vanilla flavors,
softens the wine and adds tannins. American oak in a
Chardonnay adds oak flavors without covering the Chardonnay
grape characteristics.
Other additives may include: elderflowers (white wines) or
elderberries (red wines), golden raisins for white wines
or regular raisins for red or white (may darken color)
wines.
Improve body
The body is the mouth feel of the wine, if it isn't there,
it's thin like water. Again, using the reserve mentioned
above would add body, but that doesn't work for all wines.
A couple ounces (up to 4 in 5 gallons) glycerin will add
body to wine.
Other methods that have been used in wine to improve body
(not all tested or approved by me) include: banana, apple
juice, red or white grape concentrate, and raisins.
Not all ideas will work with all wine kits. Know your wine
kit, the wine style you are making and your desired
results. Experimentation is probably the best way to learn
what will work with the wine type you are making. It is
always best to try a little and see how it works. If it is
good, next time use more, if it is bad, you haven't put in
too much to ruin the wine.
What a great hobby; experiment, learn, and improve your
wines.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Don has recently retired as the Vice
President and newsletter editor for the Purple Foot Wine
Club in the Twin Cities, Minnesota. In addition to writing
articles for the "PurpleFootnotes", he also sometimes
shares articles for Grapestompers. If you have suggestions
for articles or wine questions, you can contact Don at
vintner@prodigy.net.
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How To Be A Guest Columnist For STOMPERS Newsletter
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If you'd like to be our next guest columnist, simply
send your three- or four-paragraph article to
articles@grapestompers.com. If your article is selected
for use in a future STOMPER newsletter, you'll receive
the attention of thousands, a coupon good for a discount
on your next grapestompers.com order, as well as our
heartfelt thanks. So what are you waiting for??
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CORKY'S WINEMAKING DEFINITION
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Aftertaste
- The flavor that stays in the mouth after swallowing wine.
Also known as a wine's finish, this flavor can be buttery,
oaky, spicy, tart, bitter, etc.
Look for other wine-related definitions by clicking on
the 'Glossary' button from our home page at
http://www.grapestompers.com
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NEXT MONTH'S HIGHLIGHTS
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- More Winemaking Stories from Tom's Cellar
- Another Surprise from Brant
- More Specials
- The next article from Bonnie's Bin
- More Customer Testimonials
- Another Guest Article
- New Winemaking Products
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LIST MAINTENANCE
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Past issues of the STOMPER can be found at
http://www.grapestompers.com/newsletter/archives
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Copyright (c) 2002 grapestompers.com. All rights reserved.
Boring Legal Stuff: Content is gathered from sources
considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of this info
cannot be guaranteed. Opinions expressed by guest
columnists and customer letters are those of the authors
and not necessarily those of grapestompers.com
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