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THE STOMPER
The Monthly Winemaking Newsletter of grapestompers.com
October, 2002 Issue #27
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 - Try Our Latest Winemaking Quiz
=> New Products
=> Bonnie's Bin - Cooler Weather Means Holiday Labels
=> This Month's Specials
=> Tom's Cellar - Volunteer to Taste a Different Wine
=> Feedback from Our Customers
=> Guest Column - Determining Alcohol Content of Wine
=> 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: Try Our Latest Winemaking Quiz
By Brant Burgiss, Editor
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Our apologies for the late release of this month's
newsletter... we were a little preoccupied getting ready
for the wine tasting held on October 6th at the Burgiss
Barn in Laurel Springs, NC!
The 5th Annual Wine Tasting is in the books now, and by
the looks of the smiles I saw, it was another huge success.
Kudos to Tom and Bonnie for their organization... you can
read their take on the event later in this issue.
Now... on to this month's feature article.
We've had several requests to offer another winemaking
quiz (this will be our third), so Tom and I put our heads
together and came up with another round of questions.
The quiz is multiple-choice format, so even if you don't
know the answer, it's still fun to guess!
http://www.grapestompers.com/quiz/index.asp
So pour a glass of your favorite wine, sit down, relax,
and see how you do!
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 #3155 Cru Select RQ La Rioja Nueva, $87.00
- Item #3156 Grand Cru Cabernet Franc, 10 lt, $52.25
- Item #3165 Grand Cru Malbec, 10 lt, $52.25
- Item #2107F Burgundy style bottle, flint, 12/cs, $8.99
- Item #2717A Replacement Syringe for Acid Test kit, $1.10
- Item #2717B Replacement Test Tube (Acid Test kit) $0.66
- Item #2716B Vinoferm Blue Indicator Solution 100ml, $2.31
- Item #2122 187 ml Green Champagne bottles 24/cs, $14.52
Crown Finished (takes caps or stoppers)
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BONNIE'S BIN: Cooler Weather Means Holiday Label Time
By Bonnie Brown, Manager
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Wa, again the time has flown! Someday I will not say that
as an opening to ya'll! But don't hold your breath! Ha Ha.
The wine tasting was wonderful. The "group" did a great
job of intermingling and the wine was talking! There was
a lot of sharing going on as to how each does something
and what they like or dislike. I do think more new friends
were made within the group.
I did my best this year to make sure we were more prepared
and I think we made it; at least it felt less stressful.
The weather is cooling down a bit and we can see it in
the orders we are getting. Christmas and New Year's labels
are being requested! Did you know that you can order
1/2 of your free labels in a Christmas or Holiday design?
You can! Just ask us!
That's it folks. Brant is waiting on me!!! AGAIN!
HAPPY WINEMAKING!
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 the month of October 2002 are:
Save 10% or more on 3 different wine kits
AND
Save over 11% on our most popular airlock & rubber stopper
AND
Save over 11% on acid blend and the Vinoferm acid test kit
AND
Get FREE yeast with each soda pop extract you purchase
AND
Save up to 11% on selected recipe books
AND FINALLY
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
3233 CC Chenin Blanc 58.58 52.52
3119 VDV Red Bordailles (Bordeaux) 49.39 44.44
3129 CC Cabernet Sauvignon 87.95 78.78
2235 Multi-fit drilled stopper 0.63 0.55
2223 Triple Ripple Airlock 1.04 0.92
2729 Acid Blend, 1 pound 5.45 4.84
2716A Vinoferm Acidometer 12.43 11.11
2801 Wine Recipe Handbook 3.03 2.72
2821 Kitchen Cordials Recipe Book 2.04 1.81
3200 Complete White Wine Starter Kit 246.68 175.00
3100 Complete Red Wine Starter Kit 259.79 185.00
2773 Get a free packet of Montrachet
thru yeast when you purchase any
2781 soda pop extract
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 ($13.37 value):
- Free Wine Labels (text of your choice)
- Free adhesive fermenting thermometer
- 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 text you want on your free wine labels.
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: Would You Volunteer to Taste Different Wine?
by Tom Burgiss, Owner
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I hope each of you will take time out to try our latest
winemaking quiz designed especially for you to have some
fun. One reason this issue of the Stomper is late is due
to our 5th Annual Wine Tasting here in the mountains of
North Carolina. That activity zapped away a lot of my
time. So sorry for the delay!
During the wine tasting we had some good volunteers to
come forward and taste some sweet wines when they really
preferred dry wines, and we also had volunteers to taste
dry wines when they preferred sweet wines. We showed them
a way to enjoy the wines they swore they didn't like! In
our quiz you can find out how we did it... and we want you
to try it out at home!
Another interesting activity done at the wine tasting
demonstrated the unbelievable difference in taste based
on the type wine glasses that were used. If you could
have spoken with our volunteers, I think you would have
been just as convinced of the difference between a
standard Wal-Mart wine glass versus a hand-blown Riedel
Sommelier stem. Of course, there is a BIG price
difference, but it's always fun to dream...
So the next time YOU have an opportunity to test these
wine glasses by Riedel, raise your hand and boldly walk
forward. It was just great to see the facial reactions
of our volunteers! Thanks to all of you! And a big thanks
to Robert and Pat Klaus of Texas for supplying the glasses!
I always enjoy meeting our customers and friends on the
first Sunday in October of each year. So please mark your
2003 calendar NOW and plan on joining us. I am now looking
for a big tub for the foot stomping of grapes next year!
If you can give me a lead, I will appreciate it!
*-----------------HOT TIP------------------*
Like to save money? Recycle your bottle
sealing wax!
Each time you open a wax seal, throw the
remains in a box or bag. When it comes time
to bottle your next batch of wine, the wax
can be melted and used again!
Have a tip you'd like to submit?
Send it to tips@grapestompers.com
*-----------------HOT TIP------------------*
There is nothing that I enjoy more than to see folks enjoy
making, corking, and labeling wines for the very first time
of their lives. The local high school class of 1967 just
walked out of my Bodega laughing and smiling. Five of them
came over for the final bottling, and after they had
designed their own wine label, they were fit to be tied!
One class member stated she had never laughed so much and
had so much fun! That is what life is all about... Sharing
a great fun-filled hobby with others is a terrific way to
spend time with friends. So some dull rainy day, gather
some friends and invite them in to help you. It sorta works
like the old Tom Sawyer trick - give them the corks and let
'em cork!
We have talked in the past about the fun you can have when
you join with friends to start a wine club. Each person or
couple could make a different wine to share with the others
in the group. Each month, another member hosts the event
and makes a new wine... get the picture? With about five
couples, you can taste and take home FIVE different wines.
Sound like fun? Trust me, it is! But you see I like
people and wine!
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:
Bonnie,
I just wanted to congratulate you and your personnel for
operating a fine establishment. Your promptness and
professionalism when handling any order, be it big or
small, is top notch.
I have had very unsatisfactory results when ordering from
other wine supply companies. You guys should pat yourselves
on the back for a job well done.
Thanks again and happy winemaking :0)
Customer for life,
-- Kevin Smith
Belfast, TN
Bonnie,
Thanks for seeing that and combining [the orders]... every
little bit [of money saved] helps... [it] means I will have
more to spend on more supplies in the future :o).
As one of the people commented in a prior newsletter, it is
exciting to watch it begin. Looking forward to enjoying
the finished product next to a warm fire this winter...
[the message below was a follow-up]
I was surprised and delighted to find the package waiting
for me when I returned home from work today. We are
looking forward to starting this second batch of wine.
Thanks for the special labels with the sailboat. Being
avid sailors, Sailors' Cellar seems like an appropriate
label name and your nautical rendition is really cool.
We appreciate the extra effort and thought that went into
their creation.
-- Rod Schmidt
Grand Haven, MI
Bonnie,
Wow, thanks for the fast service. I know where I'll shop
next time!
I must say that I was surprised at how fast your service
was. I ran orders from 3 different shops the same day to
check speed and you won by a mile.
-- Sean O'Keefe
Radford, VA
Bonnie,
Thanks a lot, we received our shipment in great order -
got our wine all bottled up, can't wait to try it in a
couple of months.
A pleasure doing business with you, THANKS!
-- Julie
Many of us are non-alcoholics and love the taste of fresh
grape/muscadine juice. However, our vineyard crops are
short seasoned. So I have set out on a quest to bottle
some juice for the off season. My challenges are first
and utmost a fresh tasting quality of my product. Secondly,
is a long shelf life with retention of the taste, etc.
Thirdly, I plan on using a hot water bath/canning of my
product in wine bottles with corks. Freezing is not an
option.
Do any of your readers out there have the answers to the
above questions? It is quite an involved process with
juicing, settling, filtering, additives (if any) and
(bottling) canning before the product goes bad.
Thanks for any HELP you can send my way.
-- Michael Warren
Douglasville, GA
[Editor's note: What about it, folks? Can anyone help
Michael with his predicament? If so, send him an e-mail
at: Warre7mw@aol.com ]
Thanks Bonnie,
You are great - and your website is very helpful.
Thanks so much!
-- Mark Van Ness
Lodi, CA
Bonnie:
Received my order Friday afternoon. Great way to start
the weekend. Many thanks!!
-- Steve Kerchner
Highland, IL
Tom and Bonnie,
I like to make lots of different things, but this wine
making is easy... but the best part is it is FUN.
-- Dave Rook
Arlington, VA
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GUEST COLUMN - How to Determine Alcohol Content of Wine
by Mike Oglesby, Fox, Arkansas
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Hi all. I have done some more work on the SG difference
table and thought some of you might find this work useful
in your winemaking endeavors...
An Amateur Method to Determine Alcohol Content
of a Wine Sample
To measure alcohol in a finished sample of wine by the
Honneyman method (from The Art Of Making Wine by Anderson
and Hull, pp 124-126), get a sample of wine and measure
the SG (SG1) with a short range hydrometer calibrated from
.980 to 1.020 full range or better. Then boil the sample
down to half volume in a glass or stainless container and
top back up to the original sample volume with distilled
water. Again measure the SG (SG2), making sure it is at
the same temperature as the original sample, and subtract
SG1 from SG2.
The difference in SG's are noted in the following table.
This method works because boiling the sample evaporates
off the alcohol leaving water and other soluble and
insoluble solids.
SG ALC % by
Diff Volume
1.5 1.0
2.0 1.3
2.5 1.6
3.0 2.0
3.5 2.3
4.0 2.7
4.5 3.0
5.0 3.4
5.5 3.7
6.0 4.1
6.5 4.5
7.0 4.9
7.5 5.2
8.0 5.6
8.5 6.0
9.0 6.4
9.5 6.8
10.0 7.2
10.5 7.6
11.0 8.0
11.5 8.4
12.0 8.8
12.5 9.2
13.0 9.6
13.5 10.1
14.0 10.5
14.5 11.0
15.0 11.4
15.5 11.9
16.0 12.3
16.5 12.8
17.0 13.2
17.5 13.6
18.0 14.1
18.5 14.5
19.0 15.0
19.5 15.5
20.0 16.0
20.5 16.5
21.0 17.0
21.5 17.5
22.0 18.0
Hope everyone finds this table useful!
*-----------------HOT TIP------------------*
Before pitching your yeast, be sure to look
at the expiration date on the packet. If it's
too old, you may risk a stuck fermentation.
Have a tip you'd like to submit?
Send it to tips@grapestompers.com
*-----------------HOT TIP------------------*
ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Mike Oglesby has been making wines from
fresh grapes for about 4 years now and harvested his first
crop of grapes (1300 lbs) from his own vineyard this year.
He owes a debt of gratitude to his friend and mentor
Heinrich Grohe of Heinrichshaus Vineyard and Winery for
his wisdom and patience in teaching him how to make good
wines. Mike grows 7 varieties of grapes: Cynthiana, Vidal,
Vignoles, Chambourcin, Chardonel, Landot Noir and Couderc
Noir at the very bottom of zone 6b.
You can see what Mike is up to at his new web site:
http://www.meadowcreekvineyard.com/
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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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Airlock
- A device placed on a fermenter (usually a carboy) for
the purpose of allowing carbon dioxide to escape the
vessel during the fermentation process. Since the airlock
is filled with a liquid (commonly water, but you could
use glycerin too), it works like a check valve; CO2 can
escape, but O2 can't get in and oxidize your wine.
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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