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THE STOMPER
The Monthly Winemaking Newsletter of grapestompers.com
August, 2003 Issue #37
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 - Chaptalize Your Must: How-To Tips
=> Bonnie's Bin - Summer Rains and a Prayer
=> Tom's Cellar - Protect Wine Against Heat
=> Feedback from Our Customers
=> Guest Column - Mobile Winemaking
=> How to Be Featured as a Guest Columnist
=> Corky's Winemaking Definition
=> New Products
=> This Month's Specials
=> Subscribe/Unsubscribe Information
*^* Hot Tips are sprinkled throughout the newsletter
#&# There is ONE hidden special in this issue
^#^ This month's specials and new products are found
towards the bottom of this document
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FEATURE ARTICLE: Tips for Chaptalizing Your Must
By Brant Burgiss, Editor
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Wow! Time certainly passes quickly... It's hard to believe
that last month marked the third anniversary of The Stomper
winemaking newsletter. Thanks to your input and requests,
we've been providing free tips and hints for winemakers on
a monthly basis since 2000. On to this month's topic...
This month, we thought we'd focus on a topic that could
help make the difference between a so-so wine and a great
wine - chaptalization.
Succinctly put, chaptalization is the procedure of adding
sugar to juice or must prior to or during fermentation.
When done correctly, chaptalization allows you to make
full, rich wines with sufficient alcohol levels to give
them balance.
We invite you to check out our latest winemaking article
that covers the ins and outs of chaptalization, including
discussions on when and why you should chaptalize, and
how to do it properly:
http://www.grapestompers.com/articles/chaptalize_wine.htm
We hope you'll enjoy this "sweet" topic! Be sure to let
us know what winemaking articles you'd like to see in the
future... just drop me a note.
Here's to you... and Happy Winemaking!
You can write to Brant at webmaster@grapestompers.com
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BONNIE'S BIN: Summer Rains and a Prayer
By Bonnie Brown, Manager
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Hey, WELCOME to August!
I do hope your summer hasn't been as wet as ours! We walk
outside and can smell the woods rotting. Nothing smells
fresh, just musty and moldy. We are NOT in a drought
any more. One wet summer is all it took to make up for the
lack of rains in the past 3 years. We will see soon how
it is going to affect the fruits and veggies. I know the
haying is way behind.
Our wines all look so great. You can imagine how strong
the aroma is with so many more wines going now. There used
to be a dozen or so going all the time, but now with the
Thistle Meadow Winery going great guns, it is even better.
I just love my job! The smell doesn't even keep me from
sampling my wares in the evening. You do not get tired
of wine, whether it's making it or drinking it.
I have been so busy this month that I haven't even had
time for a story to happen! That is bad. Usually something
interesting or just plain different happens that I can
share with you.
One thing on my mind, and on the minds of a lot of other
families, is our men and women in the military. They have
been in my prayers right along. Now I am adding another
prayer. This one a bit special to me; keep our son safe
as he departs on an 8-month cruise. Also remember all of
the families left at home missing their moms or dads.
It is hard on all. Let us not forget them in our daily
life. Thanks!
With that, I must get back to filling orders, ordering for
our stock and answering your e-mails, sorting the mail,
paperwork and all that goes with our little hobby here!
We sure do appreciate you all and the support you give us.
Keep the letters coming!
'Til September... Keep on a corkin!
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
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TOM'S CELLAR: Protect Wine Against Heat
by Tom Burgiss, Owner
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The month of August is usually one of the hottest months
we encounter during the course of the year. Because of
that, I would like to address the importance of storing
wines at the proper temperature!
As many of you know, we have recently begun selling wine
in our winery, called Thistle Meadow Winery, and because
it is hot, I usually ask the following question whenever
someone purchases wine:
"Where are you going after you leave here?"
Meaning of course, will they be spending their day in a
nice air conditioned car, or will they leave the wine in
their car while they hike the local trails or go shopping?
If left in a parked car during the day, the wine will
suffer in the heat of the boiling sun!
Sometimes when I ask the "Where are you headed?" question,
a customer may give me an inquisitive look as if to say,
"Now WHY does he want to know where I'm going??"
I quickly tell them that I am trying to protect their wine,
and relate a true story that happened to a nice couple who
recently bought a couple cases of wine.
They left with their purchase, and upon arrival at home,
they failed to take the wine inside... and as a result of
a 105 degree day outside, all the wine was ruined by the
time they noticed their error the next day.
What a shame - and what a waste of money and good wine!
*-----------------HOT TIP------------------*
If you recycle wine bottles from one batch
to the next, be sure to hold your bottles
to the light, preferably sunlight, to make
sure there is no mold in them.
Hidden special:
Besides this month's specials, we've dropped
the prices on 20 other wine kits this month.
Check it out!
Have a tip you'd like to submit?
Send it to tips@grapestompers.com
*-----------------HOT TIP------------------*
Don't let this happen to you... protect your wines...
You've invested your time making the best wine possible...
you are justifiably proud of the fine wine you've made...
so guard your wines with the proper temperature.
Fifty-five (55) degrees Fahrenheit is perfect for the long-
term storage of wine. Your basement (or the coolest room
in the house) is best.
Having said that, I realize that in some areas of the
world, digging a basement is like digging into a lake or
a bed of solid rock... Easier said than done. But cool
temperatures are best in helping clear wines as you go
through the stages of racking and fining. Wine will clear
out faster in a cool room as you get closer to bottling
day. Johannisberg Riesling is especially difficult to
clear out in the summertime. So if your wine seems to
take a long time in clarifying, try cooling it down!
Please mark your calendar for Sunday, October 5th - the
date for our annual wine tasting. More details later.
Tom
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:
Hello!
I am new at winemaking and have placed two orders with
you in the past few weeks. I have been amazed at how
quickly you ship these out and the packages have been
well packed and everything has arrived in great shape
- even the glass and delicate items.
I know that when something goes wrong, most people
(including myself at times) are very quick to complain.
But when someone does a great job - usually no one says
anything.
So I just wanted to say "Thank You" for doing such a great
job of getting my merchandise to me quickly, in great shape
and at reasonable prices. I expect to be doing business
with you for a long time.
Best regards,
-- Jay Enterkin
Raleigh, NC
Bonnie,
I forgot to tell you that our last batch came out great.
We were concerned at first because it smelled really musty.
A guy my husband works with said we might have to add
(charcoal?) or something to get rid of the musty smell
because he thought we may have left it too long in the
carboy before we bottled it.
We decided not to take his advice and wait the six months
before tasting it again. What a joy it was to open a
bottle and taste such great wine, wine we made, so of
course we opened another. Thanks!
-- Lisa
Hi Tom and Bonnie,
We received the beer kit and got it started. Here is a
tip you might pass along. If using a 23 liter primary
fermenter bucket, to prevent a mess if it overflows, put
the bucket in a 16 gallon "Rubbermaid" Utility Tub
(available at Home Depot, Lowes, etc. for about 8 bucks).
The fermenter bucket, with spigot, fits perfectly. And it
only takes a little more room than the bucket alone.
Hope to see you soon.
-- Yates & Nancy Smith
Brant,
Thanks for your [news]letter and for all the tips. Keep
the letters coming!
-- B.G. Stewart
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GUEST COLUMN - Mobile Winemaking
by Frank Joseph, location ever-changing
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Editor's Note: Not long ago, Frank Joseph threatened to
take winemaking to a new level, when he promised to write
back and let us know when he has begun making wine in his
ever-moving RV... have carboy, will travel!
Dear Brant,
I have taken my winemaking show on the road. I have
started my first wine kit in our new home, a thirty-six
foot fifth wheel recreational vehicle.
If you are interested in seeing my new setup, please click
on http://www.geocities.com/proudfrank/roadwine.htm
We are currently in southwest Ohio. We will be heading
south in the fall and are looking forward to meeting all
of the great people at Grapestompers.
Regards,
Frank and Mary Joseph
*-----------------HOT TIP------------------*
To repair a broken crystal wine glass stem,
I "weld" the two pieces back together using
my little propane blowtorch.
Just heat the two ends until they are glowing
hot, then hold them together for a little
while. When the glass cools, the two ends
are bonded together!
Our thanks to Robert Klause from Texas for
providing this winemaking tip.
Have a tip you'd like to submit?
Send it to tips@grapestompers.com
*-----------------HOT TIP------------------*
Brant replies:
Frank, great web page! I am thinking that clarifying and
racking wine might prove pretty challenging in a mobile
environment! Would you be willing to share your secrets
with us?
You can contact Frank and Mary Joseph at:
proudmary01@earthlink.net
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Like 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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Balance
- A well-balanced wine is a primary goal of the winemaker.
Such a wine blends all of its components gracefully: the
fruit, tannin, acid, and sugar. A wine's balance may only
be realized after some aging.
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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NEW PRODUCTS
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Here is a list of products recently added to our catalog:
- Item #2425 PVC Capsule, ivory w/gold grapes, $0.14 ea
- Item #2423 PVC Capsule, blue w/gold grapes, $0.14 (soon)
- Item #4622 Colored bottle tags (100), $14.95
- Item #2712B Alcotec 48 hr Turbo Super Yeast, $4.13
- Item #2712C Alcotec 24 hr Turbo Super Yeast, $4.40
- Item #2749A Liquor Quik Super Yeast, $4.51
The last three products are made especially for the Liquor
Quik product line of flavored liqueur extracts. Just add
sugar and water and watch the action begin!
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THIS MONTH'S SPECIALS
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grapestompers' specials for the month of August 2003 are:
Item # Description Reg. Price SPECIAL
3235 CC Johannisberg Riesling 69.63 61.19
3119 VDV Red Bordailles (Bordeaux) 49.50 43.46
3278 OB Raspberry White Zinfandel 41.25 36.30
3173 WA Mist - Black Currant Merlot 48.51 42.69
3712 BH Winterfest Beer Kit (ltd qty) 31.02 26.67
2205 Glass Carboy - 3 US gallons 13.15 10.99
2204 Glass Carboy - 5 US gallons 16.59 13.99
2730 Acid Blend, 3 oz. 1.92 1.59
2735 Bentonite, 4 oz. 1.32 1.09
2731 Campden Tablets, approx. 100 2.20 1.79
2738 Heavy Toasted Oak Chips, 1 lb. 4.68 4.07
2747 Dried Elderberries, 4 oz. 3.52 3.02
2264 3-Prong Cork Retriever 5.28 4.59
2692 Vinebrite Wine Filter 28.33 24.64
2821 Recipe Book - Kitchen Cordials 2.04 1.79
2758 Italian Licorice extract (Sambuca) 3.85 3.31
ALL Classic Liquor Kits - entire stock 24.95 21.95
2401 Push On Capsule - Gold 0.15 0.12
2402 Push On Capsule - Burgundy 0.15 0.12
2403 Push On Capsule - Ivory 0.15 0.12
2421 Push On Capsule - Green 0.15 0.12
3700 Complete Beermaking Kit 191.82 169.99
3200 Complete White Wine Starter Kit 246.68 175.00
3100 Complete Red Wine Starter Kit 259.79 185.00
The VDV, OB, and WA wine kits are designed to make about 30
750 ml bottles of great wine in as little as 28 days.
The Riesling wine kits come off in as few as 45 days,
and also makes about 30 bottles. The Black Currant Merlot
and the Raspberry White Zinfandel are refreshingly sweet
with plenty of fruit flavor, with an alcohol content from
7% to 9%.
Wine and beer kit abbreviations explained:
BH = Brew House beer kit
CC = Cellar Classic wine kit
GC = Grand Cru wine kit
WA = Wine~Art wine kit
MM = Mosti Mondiale wine kit
OB = Orchard Breezin' 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 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 credit
card... 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.
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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 - Submit yours today!
- New Winemaking Products
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LIST MAINTENANCE
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