------------------------------------------------------------
THE STOMPER
The Monthly Winemaking Newsletter of grapestompers.com
February, 2003 Issue #31
http://www.grapestompers.com 1-800-233-1505
Hours: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Eastern Monday - Friday
------------------------------------------------------------
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.
------------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE
------------------------------------------------------------
=> Feature Article - New Dealership Now Open in Texas
=> New Products
=> Bonnie's Bin - Jabbing My Way to Valentine's Day
=> This Month's Specials
=> Tom's Cellar - Cruisin' For A Good Wine
=> Feedback from Our Customers
=> Guest Column - My Corking Solution
=> How to Be Featured as a Guest Columnist
=> Corky's Winemaking Definition
=> Subscribe/Unsubscribe Information
*^* Hot Tips are sprinkled throughout the newsletter
------------------------------------------------------------
FEATURE ARTICLE: New Dealership Now Open in Texas
By Brant Burgiss, Editor
------------------------------------------------------------
Good news for our customers in Texas! A dealership is now
available to ship and sell winemaking supplies from Texas
via the latest new division of grapestompers.com known as:
FineVineWines.
The proprietor is George Cornelius, a vintner himself, who
visited with us in the home office here in North Carolina.
George is very knowledgeable and will make every effort to
please you and provide great customer service.
The advantage for winemakers in Texas is obvious - having
a local grapestompers dealership will help save on shipping
charges and provide faster service.
George's shipping area will cover zip codes 75000 through
79999. His toll free number is 800-417-1114; his hours
are from 6-10 PM weekdays and from 8 AM -10 PM on weekends.
You can reach him via e-mail at george@grapestompers.com
Our hope here at grapestompers is to set up dealerships in
every state in the USA, since this will allow us to provide
faster service and charge less for shipping charges. Our
dealerships are NOT considered franchises (which normally
require monies for the brand name). It is a business that
you run by yourself... and we only offer dealerships to
vintners who prove themselves dedicated to the subject of
winemaking and who desire to give great and friendly
service to fellow home winemakers!
For those who might be interested in opening a grapestompers
dealership, we do require a visit to our home office in
Laurel Springs, NC. grapestompers.com has an excellent
reputation for integrity and honesty and we will make a
personal evaluation of interested parties. We will talk
with anyone via the phone first and send the necessary
information for your consideration.
If you're interested, please contact Tom at 800-233-1505.
Here's to you... and Happy Winemaking!
You can write to Brant at webmaster@grapestompers.com
------------------------------------------------------------
NEW PRODUCTS
------------------------------------------------------------
Here is a list of products recently added to our catalog:
From the Wine~Art Country Mist line:
- Item #3173 WA Black Currant Merlot, 5.5L, $45.37
- Item #3274 WA Black Cherry Pinot Noir, 5.5L, $45.37
- Item #3288 WA Pink Grapefruit Blush, 5.5L, $45.37
- Item #3287 WA Strawberry White Zinfandel, 5.5L, $45.37
From the Cru Select Platinum line (RJ Spagnols):
- Item #3283 CSP Viognier, $73.34
- Item #3186 CSP L'Collage (France), $80.68
(a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot & Cabernet Franc)
- Item #3184 CSP RQ Chianti Riserva (Italian), $80.68
- Item #3175 CSP RQ Old Vine Zinfandel, $86.99
Other Items:
- Item #2646 Brew Belt (maintains optimum ferm temp) $17.43
- Item #2250 Carboy Drying Stand, $8.72
- Item #2794 Cherry Flavor for Beer and Wine, $5.34
- Item #2795 Strawberry Flavor for Beer and Wine, $4.68
- Item #2743 French Oak Chips, one pound, $8.25
- Item #2421 Capsules, Green, Push On, $0.15 each
Soon to be back in stock... call for details:
- Item #2727 Yeast Energizer (powder), $1.65
- Item #3155 CSP La Rioja Nueva, $80.68
Learn more about NEW Cru Select Restricted Quantities 2003
wine kits (mentioned above) offered by RJ Spagnols:
http://www.rjspagnols.com/wine_rq2003.asp
------------------------------------------------------------
BONNIE'S BIN: Jabbing My Way to Valentine's Day
By Bonnie Brown, Manager
------------------------------------------------------------
Wow, what a speed wagon we are on. Time goes faster each
month, especially when you are trying to write a note for
the STOMPER! If I could "talk" online it would be easier!
My aunt is known as "Jabber Fingers"; she is giving me
lessons so I can be Jabber Fingers Jr.! Need I say
this trait runs in our family? If you're curious to know
what a "Jabber Finger" is, call me!
I am here to remind you all that Valentine's Day is here
again. That was pretty speedy too. Take that sweetie out
to dinner, breakfast, or even just for a drive. Be sure to
have a nice glass of wine on that day so you will both be
healthy and here for the next one! How is that for working
wine into this conversation? Did you think I could avoid
wine for this month? NOT!
We have had a wonderful time tasting the four new fruity
wines from Wine~Art. The additional 2% alcohol (8 to 9%
alcohol by volume for these kits, versus the 6 to 7%
offered by the Cellar Master "Mist" wines made by RJ
Spagnols) is quite a nice touch. "Kick 'er up a notch!"
so Emeril says! Subtle fruit taste and not so sweet; a
really well-balanced wine.
Speaking of Emeril, do any of you catch that program? It
is interesting how he incorporates wine into his recipes...
and did you ever notice how the audience gets a little bit
rowdier? It is great to add wines to our everyday cooking,
in sauces, dressings, marinades, soups, stews... Even a bit
in canned soups does wonders! Or try a shot of beer in
your next bowl of canned soup! Is it lunch time yet?
Hahaha!
As cold as the country has been, I bet there's a lot of
soup being consumed these days. I do hope you are all
staying safe and warm. Spring will be here, someday! At
least we have holidays to look forward to, and they will
make the winter seem nicer. Such as VALENTINE'S DAY...
ST. PATRICK'S DAY... well, that one is for next month's
note. Not to say that "holiday of the green" is not nice!
If you are a skier, snowboarder, snowmobiler, or any fan
of winter sports, it gets mighty long and cold in between
runs. Add spice to one of your wines, then a cinnamon
stick, warm it a bit, then snuggle in to enjoy the rest of
this wonderful season called winter.
See you soon...
Bonnie
Life is too short... to drink bad wine... so make your own!
You can write to Bonnie at bonnie@grapestompers.com
------------------------------------------------------------
THIS MONTH'S SPECIALS
------------------------------------------------------------
grapestompers' specials for the month of February 2003 are:
Save up to 13% on assorted winemaking kits
AND
Save 14% on selected colors of bottle sealing wax
AND
Save up to 20% on our wine enhancer
AND
Get free corks with the purchase of any case
of 750 or 375 ml wine bottles
AND
Get 15 free capsules when you buy a Cellar Classic wine kit
AND
Get a free pocket corkscrew when you buy a VDV wine kit
AND
Save over $21 on our NEW Complete Beermaking Kit
AND
Save up to $30 on our NEW Super Wine Kit
(while quantities last!)
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)
NOTE: All customers who make a purchase during February
will automatically be entered to win a package of Wine
Glass Charms by Hamilton. One drawing each week!
Employees and dealers of grapestompers.com not eligible.
Item # Description Reg. Price SPECIAL
3280 CM Peach Chardonnay 38.41 33.33
3225 VDV Sauvignon Blanc 41.25 35.55
3149 VDV Zinfandel 53.13 46.66
3158 Sherry (12 liter kit) 38.39 33.33
3108 Port (12 liter kit) 50.59 44.44
2718 Wine enhancer, red 3.52 2.99
2719 Wine enhancer, white 3.12 2.49
2407 Bottle Sealing Wax, Red 6.96 5.99
2412 Bottle Sealing Wax, Burgundy 6.96 5.99
Var. Get free corks (#2308) - one for each bottle - when
you purchase a case of 750 or 375 ml wine bottles
Var. Get 15 free capsules w/purchase of any CC wine kit
(style and color of our choice)
2904 Free pocket corkscrew with the purchase of any
or Vino del Vida wine kit. Carry your corkscrew with
2905 you anywhere... you never know when you'll need it!
3700 Complete Beermaking Kit 191.82 169.99
2020 Super Wine Kit- Sauvignon Blanc 110.90 89.99
3200 Complete White Wine Starter Kit 246.68 175.00
3100 Complete Red Wine Starter Kit 259.79 185.00
The CC wine kits are designed to make about 30 - 750 ml
bottles of great wine in as little as 45 days. VDV and CM
kits are designed to make the same amount in 28 days.
Sherry and Port kits make about 16 bottles of wine, and
require a 3-gallon carboy for fermentation.
Wine kit abbreviations explained:
CC = Cellar Classic wine kit
GC = Grand Cru wine kit
CM = Cellar Master 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 SUPER Wine Kit:
-Sauvignon Blanc VDV wine kit (limited quantities - order
while our supply lasts!)
-Primary and Bottling Bucket with Lid, 7.8 gallons
-6 Gallon Glass Carboy
-Drilled Rubber Stopper
-3-Piece Airlock
-15" X 1/2" OD Bottle Filler
-26" X 1/2" OD Curved Cane & Racking Tip
-5 feet of 7/16" ID Flex Tubing
-Fast Flow Bottle Spigot
-C-Brite sanitizer (8 packets - each makes 2 gallons)
-Hand corker (double lever Portuguese model)
-30 corks (#2308)
-30 Free wine labels
Don't forget... our supplies for the SUPER Wine Kit are
limited. Order now to get the wine you want!
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 C-Brite Sanitizer (8)
Portuguese Hand Corker FermTech AutoSiphon
2 Cases of 750-ml Bottles Long Handled Spoon
Bottle Washer Adapter Brass Bottle Washer
Bottle Drainer, 45 station Adhesive Thermometer
AND YOU GET THE FOLLOWING ITEMS FREE ($16.79 value):
- Free Wine Labels (text of your choice)
- Free triple scale hydrometer
- 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 or her 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.
If you prefer, 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.
------------------------------------------------------------
TOM'S CELLAR: Cruisin' For A Good Wine
by Tom Burgiss, Owner
------------------------------------------------------------
This past month, I took a ten-day cruise on what I call the
"fat farm ship" to the Mexican Riviera and observed many,
many humongous BIG folks. Naturally, I watched my diet
along with our wine each evening and came back the same
size!
I remembered in France seeing no overweight folks so this
has convinced me that the French know how to keep their
figures under control.
While on the ship I attended a broad wine tasting with
about 200 other folks. Never have I been rushed through a
tasting in such a hurry. Folks around me were gulping it
down so fast it might as well had been "Windex" (as in the
movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding").
It would appear that the wine never hit their taste buds!
After that "fast experience" I decided to go for the gold,
a very exclusive wine tasting. So at 25 bucks a head, we
experienced a slower-paced tasting later in the week. I
ran across some folks there who really did appreciate good
wine. During this time my wife, Nancy, and I ran into an
interesting couple who lived in Alaska. They revealed that
during the dark days of winter, they have absolutely no
trouble in passing the time away with their glasses of
wine. Needless to say, they love Alaska!
After experiencing both wine tastings, my final analysis
was that the ship's best wine would not come close to my
own Cellar Classic Montepulciano or Cellar Classic Rosso
Grande! So if it was great wine I was after, I should have
stayed at home!
*-----------------HOT TIP------------------*
On bottling day I use a large plastic cooler
to sit my bottles in to prevent any messy
spills and drips. The cooler usually holds
10 bottles, which is just about the right
number for corking with my hand corker.
I then load the cooler with the next batch
of empty bottles and continue the production
line.
Our thanks to Frank Joseph from Beaver Falls,
PA for this great tip.
Have a tip you'd like to submit?
Send it to tips@grapestompers.com
*-----------------HOT TIP------------------*
News Alert on the Wine Cellar Express Magnet Coaster:
We have sent out dozens of these little jewels and our
feedback is just what I expected! Our customers cannot
believe how much it improves young tannic wines with a
"bite". Our good friend Robert Klaus wrote a comment that
I think you might find interesting, so we're including his
letter in the "From Our Customers" section below.
I must say that the Wine Cellar Express does not work on
homemade sweet wines or white wines (as opposed to red
wines) because they have less tannin!
You can write to Tom at tom@grapestompers.com
------------------------------------------------------------
FROM OUR CUSTOMERS
------------------------------------------------------------
As you might imagine, our office receives quite a bit of
correspondence - mostly through e-mail - here are some
comments we've recently received:
Tom,
We received as a gift a 1.5 L of Corbett Canyon, Cabernet
Sauvignon. The stuff was so harsh and bitter you could
hardly drink it. I rebottled it in two regular wine
bottles and placed one bottle on the magic coaster [Wine
Cellar Express]. Left it there for 18 hours. A totally
different wine, like a magic trick.
I remain totally amazed. Thank you so much.
-- Robert and Pat Klaus
Brant,
Please update my e-mail address as I would not want to
miss any issues of The Stomper. You do a real good job
on the newsletter, especially this month.
Thanks and keep up the good work.
-- Bill Dewar
Tom & Bonnie,
Thank you so much for sending me the stuff so quickly.
It arrived on the 9th. I was so excited, I tore into the
boxes and had everything cleaned and put together as soon
as I got home from work. The Cellar Classic kit was
started that evening. I even started a batch from Welch's
100% juice since then.
-- Jim Moake
Carbondale, IL
Hi folks,
So glad to hear from you. Thanks for all the tips...
Keep them coming!
-- Bob Stewart
Ten Mile, TN
Tom and Bonnie,
I wanted to contact you to have you change my e-mail
address on your computer and mailing list. Please update
my information in your files. [I] look forward to [getting]
the newsletters.
Also, thanks for the Johannisburg Reisling juice; it made
an excellent wine, by far exceeding any Reisling on the
shelves that I've had under $25/bottle. Look forward to
more juice in the future.
Thanks again,
-- Dan Lucas
Dear Tom,
It's Kim from Tampa, Florida... I called you yesterday
after we bottled our first batch. We had a bottle last
night and it was great! Today we bought a $10 bottle to
compare it to and did a blind-folded test to see if we
could tell which was the store bought and which was ours--
neither my husband nor I could tell which one was from a
winery!
Thanks so much for all your assistance! I placed an
online order for my second batch and we can't wait to
get it and start again!
-- Kim and Barry Glover
Tampa, FL
------------------------------------------------------------
GUEST COLUMN - My Corking Solution
by Frank Joseph, Beaver Falls PA
------------------------------------------------------------
I am a relative neophyte with wine making kits (7 so far).
I would like to share my limited experience with anyone
who is considering this hobby. I use a simple two-handed
lever corker for bottling my wine. My first bottling
experience was somewhat frustrating because of the
inconsistencies in this critical step in wine production.
I practiced my corking skills with the hand corker in
anticipation of the actual corking process of my first kit.
I had read a number of articles on how to treat corks. It
seems that there are dozens of opinions on soaking vs. not
soaking vs. how long to soak and what sulfite mixture to
use to sanitize the corks. I even made a cork humidor that
I had read about on the Internet. None of these helped
because the corking operation was the critical step of the
operation and it was a bit of a disaster.
The corks were difficult to insert into the bottles. The
depth of insertion into the bottles was very inconsistent.
I had a number of corks that weren't inserted far enough
and the only way to get the corker off the cork was to
break the cork in the bottle and remove the partial cork
with a corkscrew.
Needless to say, I thought that my winemaking history was
going to be short-lived... [and] my first wine kit would be
my last! I am stubborn and knew there was a solution to
this critical step. I researched all of the alternatives
and realized that one of my favorite commercial wines used
a synthetic cork.
I was not married to the idea of sticking to tradition of
only using real cork; I was interested in eliminating the
frustration in my winemaking.
*-----------------HOT TIP------------------*
An update to last month's tip on how to
insert a synthetic cork:
It is not desirable to lubricate the iris
of any corker with silicone, synthetic
lubricant or even vegetable oil. A much
better approach is to add a little glycerin
to the sulfite solution that you soak your
corks in prior to bottling.
Just add about 1 fluid ounce of glycerin
to each liter of warm water. Add a crushed
Campden tablet and then soak your corks for
20-30 minutes.
The glycerin will not harm the wine or leave
a film as do most other lubricants. It is
actually good for the cork too. It keeps it
soft and pliable, thereby enhancing its
function to keep out oxygen and provide a
longer shelf life.
Our thanks to Joe Vernice for providing
this tip!
Have a tip you'd like to submit?
Send it to tips@grapestompers.com
*-----------------HOT TIP------------------*
I researched the synthetic corks and found that the "cork"
I wanted to try was a "nomacorc". I found a nearby supplier
and bought some to try on my next wine kit that was
working. I thought I would try these corks along with the
natural corks that I still had a supply left from my
initial purchase.
When bottling my second kit, I used 8 natural corks and
the frustration returned. I then tried one of my new
"nomacorc's" and was amazed at the ease of insertion of
these "corks". They were easy to use and were aesthetically
pleasing to look at. Each one was the same depth in the
bottle. The bottles looked very professionally corked.
I have used the "nomacorc" in my last 5 wine kits and this
synthetic cork was one of my best discoveries in my brief
winemaking history.
I hope you will share this story with those frustrated
corkers out there in wine land. Thanks for the opportunity
to share.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Frank Joseph is a retired 59-year-old
nomad temporarily located in PA with his wife Mary and
stepson. Before that, he and his wife lived full time on
a boat for 5 years and then full time in a 5th wheel for
two years. Last year, they moved into a house in PA.
Frank drinks two glasses of red wine each day for his
heart. He says, "Winemaking was a natural hobby for me,
but I never had the space to make the decision. I have
been producing wine kits (Pinot Noir & Valpolicella) for
six months, to drink and take on the road when we resume
our nomadic lifestyle in the fall. Somehow, I will
continue my new hobby. Winemaking is a great hobby and
it's never too late to learn."
You can contact Frank and Mary Joseph at:
proudmary01@earthlink.net
------------------------------------------------------------
Like To Be A Guest Columnist For STOMPERS Newsletter?
------------------------------------------------------------
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??
------------------------------------------------------------
CORKY'S WINEMAKING DEFINITION
------------------------------------------------------------
bātonnage
- A French term for stirring the lees (trub).
Look for other wine-related definitions by clicking on
the 'Glossary' button from our home page at
http://www.grapestompers.com
------------------------------------------------------------
NEXT MONTH'S HIGHLIGHTS
------------------------------------------------------------
- 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 - Submit yours today!
- New Winemaking Products
------------------------------------------------------------
LIST MAINTENANCE
------------------------------------------------------------
To SUBSCRIBE to the STOMPER winemaking hints newsletter,
send a blank e-mail to newsletter@grapestompers.com
with a subject line of: subscribe stomper
To quit receiving the STOMPER winemaking hints newsletter,
send a blank e-mail to newsletter@grapestompers.com
with a subject line of: unsubscribe stomper
Past issues of the STOMPER can be found at
http://www.grapestompers.com/newsletter/archives
------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright (c) 2003 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
------------------------------------------------------------