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THE STOMPER
The Monthly Winemaking Newsletter of grapestompers.com
September, 2003 Issue #38
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 - Calling All Wine Recipes
=> Bonnie's Bin - Six Weeks Makes a Happier Husband
=> Tom's Cellar - Get The Most Out of a Wine Festival
=> Feedback from Our Customers
=> Guest Column - Uncork Your Wine Stories
=> 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: Calling All Wine Recipes
By Brant Burgiss, Editor
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Let's hear it for harvest time! This is the time each
year we eagerly anticipate... what type of crop will we
have this year? How much wine can we make? Hey, someone
pass the potassium metabisulfite!
This is also the time we pull out our tried and true wine
recipes and put them to good use... you DID find yours
again this year, right?
While you've got your home winemaking recipes out, may I
ask a favor? Send us your favorite recipe or two so we
can post it on the web site for everyone to see and enjoy!
We'd like to offer more wine recipes for a simple reason:
You asked! Several of you have written requesting more
wine recipes that really work - lower yield recipes (those
that produce 1 to 6 US gallons of wine) that vintners can
easily reproduce at home.
If you'd like to participate in our recipe-gathering
process, please send your recipes to:
recipes@grapestompers.com
We'll give you credit as the source of the recipe, or if
the recipe is not yours, we'd like to list the appropriate
source to give proper credit.
And if fame isn't enough reason to submit your favorite
wine recipe, perhaps a little bribery won't hurt...
If you submit at least one unique wine recipe* during the
month of September, we'll give you a discount on winemaking
supplies or products purchased on or before September 30th.
For one recipe: 5% off
For two recipes: 10% off
*If a recipe is submitted more than once, only the first
person to send in the recipe will receive credit.
Just be sure to sign your name and address, so we can give
you proper credit and match it up with your order!
Here's to you... and Happy Winemaking!
You can write to Brant at webmaster@grapestompers.com
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BONNIE'S BIN: Six Weeks Makes a Happier Husband
By Bonnie Brown, Manager
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Hard to think of it right now during all the heat and rain
of September, but it is time to plan for our holiday wines.
A couple of newer ones, Cranberry Shiraz and Cranberry
Chianti, would be awesome for your Thanksgiving celebration.
Make a few extras for gift giving at Christmas time. The
perfect touch for any get-together.
I heard today on the news that if the weather had been a
few degrees cooler, that cold rain in the upper Midwest
(Michigan) could have been snow! WA, that is just too
early. I have been there and have seen it happen, but it
is still too early. There is a lot of work going on around
here in the North Carolina mountains; the Fraser Christmas
tree farmers are busy so I know winter is on the way.
Time sure flies when you are having fun, eh? I was having
a lot of fun until I ran out of my husband's favorite wine!
I am in trouble for the next 6 weeks until it is ready
again. I will stall this problem for a bit, I started TWO!
I do not want to go through this again. He doesn't
understand how I can be making all of these wines and
run out of his.
LESSON: Keep your spouse well supplied so you can make it
for all of your friends! I will agree, I had things a bit
out of order there.
Well, my ramblings are getting longer and longer, so I
will bid you farewell for now.
Let us not forget those who went before us and paved
the way.
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: Get The Most Out of a Wine Festival
by Tom Burgiss, Owner
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About this time of the year, wine festivals spring up all
over as the grapes begin to roll in. Whenever I think
about harvest time, I can't help but picture the scene
where "Lucy" was squashing the grapes!
In fact, the Thistle Meadow Winery and grapestompers.com
family are going to be in Charlotte, NC on Saturday and
Sunday, September 20-21 with a festival featuring all the
wineries from North Carolina. Hope to see some of you
there to enjoy the tasting.
If I may, please allow me a moment to help you judge the
wine best for YOU... so here goes!
1) Bring your own tasting glass with a large bowl at the
bottom to help gather the aroma of the wine. The glass
should be large enough so that BOTH your lips and your
nose are inside the glass when you take a sip. Those
smaller glasses do NOT do justice to you or the wine!
2) Take a hint from your tongue... Please decide which
wines you prefer (red, white, sweet, dry, etc.) so you
can make direct comparisons. If you keep switching back
and forth between different wine types, your poor tongue
has a terrible time adjusting to wild mouth swings
unless you let it rest! So visit all the wineries,
focusing on the wine of your choice. This way, you can
really compare for the best wine.
If you want to taste both reds and whites, taste the dry
whites first, then make ANOTHER round for the dry reds!
Remember that the sweet wines should always be last.
Most of the wineries will have a cracker or something to
nibble on to help you cleanse your palate between wines.
Remember: sight, then aroma, flavor, and finish is the
right order to choose a wine.
Am I being snobbish? No... it's your wine, and your
money - you should shop wisely for the best!
*-----------------HOT TIP------------------*
Sanitizing your stainless steel equipment
with chlorine? Try using Iodophor instead.
Chlorine will cause pitting and corrosion
of stainless steel winemaking equipment.
Hidden special:
We're offering a discount for those who
send in a wine recipe this month. See the
first article in this issue. Check it out!
Have a tip you'd like to submit?
Send it to tips@grapestompers.com
*-----------------HOT TIP------------------*
3) Above all, go to enjoy the day; learn something new, and
be sure to dress for the weather - wine festivals tend
to go on - rain or shine.
As a reminder, please be sure to mark your calendar for
Sunday, October 5th. Our 6th Annual Wine Tasting will
take place at 2:30 PM here in Laurel Springs.
Bring your own wine glass, or you may purchase a souvenir
glass at the door. Admission is free.
You may want to come early and enjoy our Sunday Buffet,
starting 11:30 AM until 2:00 PM. Jimmy Benge of JIFF
Catering promises to have a great buffet for only $6.95.
Since we will gather at and around the Burgiss Barn, our
tasting goes on rain or shine, hot or cold!
Entertainment and music will again be there for you!
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:
Dear Tom and Bonnie,
Just wanted to drop you a line to let you know how we did
at the Indy International Wine Competition. Judging is
getter rougher and the competition is increasing; more
people are making and entering their wines.
This year we entered 8 different wines and here are the
medals that we were awarded:
Gold .... Red Raspberry
Silver .. Pear
Strawberry
Bronze... Gooseberry
Razzmatazz (Blueberry and Wild Blackberry blend)
We were pleased. Just thought you might like to hear.
Thanks,
-- Brenda and Roger Hasler
Sullivan, IN
(amateur winemakers since 1999)
Bonnie,
Thank you so much for the prompt response. It's nice to
know that there are still some companies out there that
believe in customer service! :)
-- Tim and Barbara
Brant,
I ordered the corker and downloaded the tutorial. Although
I haven't had a chance to read it yet, it looks like a lot
more information than I got from my local provider. I
think I will be ordering again from you in the future.
Thanks for the service.
-- Robin Altobelli
Tom,
Are you aware of any winemaking clubs or groups in the
Triangle area of NC (Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill)?
I can't seem to find one.
-- Jay
[Tom's reply]
Jay, to our knowledge, I know of none to date... we've
searched high and low on the Internet and couldn't come
up with a club in that area. In the meantime, please feel
free to visit us online and in person if you have a chance.
[Jay's response]
Thanks Tom, I really appreciate that! Grapestompers is the
best! I will check out the Thistle Meadow Winery web site
you listed and I'm already very familiar with the excellent
Grapestompers site. I will definitely try to plan a visit
next time I am in the western part of NC.
I still can't imagine that a metropolitan area as large as
Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill doesn't have a winemaker's group
or club... oh well.
Thanks again!
[Editor's note]
What do you say, folks? If anyone is aware of a winemaking
club or group in the Triangle area of NC, please let us
know so we can pass the info along to Jay.
and finally, from the "Oops, we goofed... but we'll make
it right" department:
Jeff,
The carboy I shorted you on the 08/19/03 shipment was
shipped today 08/25/03.
-- Jimmy Benge
grapestompers.com
[Jeff's reply]
Jimmy,
Thanks for the quick response. Things like this happen
from time to time, and your willingness to correct it
quickly is greatly appreciated. I hope to do business
with you many more times in the future.
-- Jeff Clark
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GUEST COLUMN - Uncork Your Wine Stories
by Brant Burgiss
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Sorry, but no one has stepped forward to offer this month's
guest column.
You don't have to be a winemaking expert to contribute!
Just send us three or four paragraphs of a funny wine
experience, or a lesson learned when you first started
making wine. That's all there is to it.
The idea is to share a laugh or a tip, so others can enjoy!
*-----------------HOT TIP------------------*
Once you've finished racking your wine into
a clean and sanitized carboy for clearing,
be sure to place the carboy in an elevated
location, like on a countertop or table.
That way, when it's time to rack again,
you won't have to move the carboy. If you
did, it could easily disturb the lees and
cause your wine to get cloudy again!
Have a tip you'd like to submit?
Send it to tips@grapestompers.com
*-----------------HOT TIP------------------*
We look forward to receiving your article for publication
in a future issue of The Stomper.
Just send your submissions to articles@grapestompers.com
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Like To Be A Guest Columnist For The STOMPER 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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Nitrogen
- An inert gas used by winemakers to take up headspace
in a carboy or bottle. Since nitrogen is heavier than
air, its presence helps displace oxygen and keep it away
from your wine. This helps to prevent oxidation.
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 #2805 The Complete Meadmaker, by Ken Schramm $23.76
212 pages of mead recipes and tips for newbies
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THIS MONTH'S SPECIALS
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grapestompers' specials for September 2003 are:
Item # Description Reg. Price SPECIAL
3252 VDV Gewurztraminer 45.76 38.89
3114 VDV Bergamais (Beaujolais) 52.25 44.41
3233 CC Chenin Blanc 66.88 56.84
3237 CC White Zinfandel 71.50 60.56
3288 WA Mist Pink Grapefruit Blush 48.51 41.23
3169 WA Mist Cranberry Shiraz 45.60 38.74
3706 BH Prairie Wheat Beer Kit 31.02 26.37
2412 Bottling Wax - Burgundy 6.96 5.90
2416 Bottling Wax - White 6.96 5.90
2210 Ferm bucket, lid, spigot combo 15.35 12.99
2711 Claro KC Clarifier 1.54 1.29
2744 Super Smoother (oak & glycerin) 2.20 1.87
4300 Mulberry Bark Wine Gift Bag (grn) 5.00 4.25
4303 Mulberry Bark Wine Gift Bag (purp) 5.00 4.25
2314 Synthetic closures, black (ea) 0.23 0.16
2804 Book: From Vines to Wines 19.25 16.95
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 and WA wine kits are designed to make about 30
750 ml bottles of great wine in as little as 28 days.
The Cellar Classic wine kits come off in as few as 45 days,
and also make about 30 bottles. The Wine~Art Mist wine
kits 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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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
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