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THE STOMPER
The Monthly Winemaking Newsletter of grapestompers.com
June, 2004 Issue #47
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 welcome to pass along this newsletter to your wine-
making friends; we only ask that it be sent in its entirety.
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IN THIS ISSUE
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=> Feature Article - New Fining Instructions
=> Bonnie's Bin - Summer Sun Can Ruin Wine Fun
=> Tom's Cellar - Low Carb Wine?
=> Feedback from Our Customers
=> Upcoming Events
=> Guest Column - Cooking With Wine: Your Recipes
=> How to Be Featured as a Guest Columnist
=> 10,000th Customer Wins Gift Certificate
=> 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: New Fining Instructions from RJ Spagnols
By Brant Burgiss, Editor
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Happy June, everyone! RJ Spagnols recently informed us
that all their wine concentrate kits will soon be featuring
a new and improved fining regime.
The most important thing to look for when you receive a
wine kit from us is to look at the color of the instruction
sheet enclosed within the box. If the instruction sheet is
cream colored (not white), then be sure to pay special
attention to the directions.
Here is a synopsis of the changes to the fining routine
(provided by RJ Spagnols):
The key feature of the new regime is the addition of
Bentonite on Day 1 for all wine kits. This is new for
En Primeur, Cellar Classic, Vino Del Vida, Bolero, Orchard
Breezin' and Cellar Master. We have completed extensive
research and development to determine the best fining regime
for all RJ Spagnols wine kits. The regime is simple to
follow and the results are outstanding.
Here's what to look for:
A Cream Colored Instruction Sheet: This means the regime
has changed! Please read carefully. The new instructions
will be in all kits produced after May 1st, 2004. For
approximately 8 months, there will be wine kits with new
instructions and wine kits with old instructions in the
market. It is important that you follow the instructions
you receive with the wine kit. NOTE: Cru Select and Grand
Cru instructions have not changed!
Yeast: Several months ago we changed to new packaging for
yeast. It is still Lalvin EC-1118 but now has exclusive
RJ Spagnols packaging.
Bentonite: We have changed to a new bentonite that dissolves
better. It was also the most successful clearing agent we
tested. The main difference is that it is added on Day 1
for all kits. It will be packaged in a foil pack to maintain
the product's freshness. The amount of bentonite has also
been adjusted to reflect the optimum amount for all wine
kits.
Sulfite and Sorbate: These two items have not changed,
but will now be packaged in a foil pack to help maintain
freshness.
Isinglass: We have decided to switch to powdered Isinglass
as our fining agent. Isinglass is a gentle, natural fining
agent that proved to be the most effective in producing a
clear wine. Liquid gelatin/kieselsol will no longer be
utilized in RJ Spagnols' wine kits.
Oak, Flavor Packs, Elderberries, Raisins, etc.: These items
have not changed.
That wraps it up for this month. Here's to you... and
Happy Winemaking!
You can write to Brant at webmaster@grapestompers.com
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BONNIE'S BIN: Summer Sun Can Ruin Wine Fun
By Bonnie Brown, Manager
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It's hot in NC and if it isn't hot at your place in the
world, it soon will be. May I offer a few words of warning
that are worth repeating year after year?
Summer warmth is a good time to ruin your wine. Yes, heat
can make your bottled wine taste and smell "cooked". So if
you are traveling, make sure it is kept in a cooler or in
the coolest spot of your vehicle. Even the wine concentrate
kits need to be kept cool. You should not put them in your
trunk or the back of a pickup. Even a short drive can cause
havoc for both.
For those of you who are in your fall season you need to be
aware of the temps being too low and freezing your wines
and concentrates.
I recently heard from a couple who sampled a wine that had
been passed down in the family for 60 years. In a canning
jar to boot! They said it was the best wine they had ever
tasted. The lady who made it knew what she was doing.
With today's technology and careful winemaking, you too can
have a wonderful wine down the road. Take a few precautions
to keep it from oxidizing, turning to vinegar or getting a
bacterial smell. Also avoid use of overripe fruits and
veggies - it could produce a moldy, dusty, cardboardy taste.
Keep your eyes and ears open for new ideas for your next
wine. Share your good findings and warn us of the bad.
Enjoy... and HAPPY WINEING!
Just give me a glass of wine... Now! Ohhhhh, that is so
much better. Time to get back to business!
We hope to see you soon.
See you next time...
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: Low Carb Wine?
by Tom Burgiss, Owner
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Low Carb Wine??
With all the hoopla surrounding the latest diet fads
(the Atkins diet and the South Beach diet) in our country,
I thought I would seek out the latest information for you,
our subscribers, in regard to the amount of carbs in a
glass of wine.
I wrote a letter to the Wine Wizard (a great winemaking
guru who writes a column for Winemaker Magazine) about this
very topic, and these are the stats he provided:
1 glass (150 ml or 5 oz.) of either red or white dry wine
contains anywhere between 1.5 to 3 grams of carbohydrates
and 100 calories.
Look for his complete answer in the June-July 2004 issue of
"WineMaker Magazine" (see page 14). Thanks Wizard!
So add all those numbers and have a glass of wine while you
are thinking about it!
*-----------------HOT TIP------------------*
Here's a quicker way to punch down the cap.
What I do is to use a plastic fizzy drink
bottle, fill it with hot water and immerse
it in my fermentation vessel. This warms up
the must so that yeast can work. Leaving
the bottle there, I then use it to punch the
cap down.
Don't remove it as then you will have to
clean & sanitize it. Just put the lid back
on until next plunging. Works for me.
Our thanks to Tony Baker from New Zealand for
providing this tip.
Hidden special:
#2716A Vinoferm Acidometer Kit
Reg. $19.14, this month $12.95
That's a 32 percent savings for a product
that will measure the acidity of your must.
BE SURE to mention this hidden special when
ordering, or you will not get the right price.
Have a tip you'd like to submit?
Send it to tips@grapestompers.com
*-----------------HOT TIP------------------*
Grapestompers.com has a customer who lives close to Dr.
Jack Ashley in Florida. Jack introduced him to winemaking.
His name is Ray Hart. We recently heard a story about him -
it goes like this:
He placed the filled carboy in his dining room on a table
with a lampshade on the top... and to quote Ray, he is
"attempting to conceal this winemaking process from my
nosey neighbors!"
Of course, this is all done in fun, and he is not trying
to hide from the revenue officials! You will share some
wine with your neighbors, right Ray? Ray? Hello, are
you still there??
For the record, we have the picture of his camouflaged
"lampshade carboy" on file at our Bodega. Ask to see
it the next time you're in Laurel Springs.
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:
Bonnie,
We have really enjoyed our homemade wine... but it seems we
are consuming more than we are producing!! So we decided
we better get some supplies ordered and get back to brewing!
Thanks again for the speedy order.
-- Karen Duling
Wichita, KS
Dear grapestompers,
We received our order yesterday - I'm speechless about the
fast service!
We can't wait to start our next batch. The labels look
fantastic as well! Thank you again!
-- Anne Whitnell
Blandon, PA
Tom,
I received my package yesterday; what fast service! I
already have my blackberry must in the primary fermenter
and it will be ready for yeast when I get home tonight.
All the parts seemed to fit together just fine.
I was hoping I would receive a catalog with my order since
I have several guys at work and a couple family members
interested as well.
Thanks,
-- Adam Dietrick
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UPCOMING EVENTS
By Tom Burgiss, Owner
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Take a look at the upcoming events for grapestompers.com,
the Burgiss Barn, and Thistle Meadow Winery:
Be sure and visit our booth at the NC Wine Festival, to be
held on Saturday, June 12th at Tanglewood (near Clemmons,
North Carolina). Tom and the gang at Thistle Meadow Winery
will be pouring your favorites! Call us at 800-233-1505
to get your advance tickets, which will save you some money
at the door. Learn more at: www.ncwinefestival.com
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Each Sunday through mid-October, the Burgiss Barn offers
a lip-smacking lunch buffet from 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM.
You'll love the food prepared by Chef Jimmy and the gang
at JIFF Catering. We'll even throw a hot yeast roll to
you when you sit down... so bring your catcher's mitt.
Lunch costs $8.00 for adults, which includes everything...
meats, veggies, rolls, dessert, drink, and the tip.
See the Burgiss Barn's web site for information on live
bluegrass and mountain music, with dances held on several
Saturday nights this season:
http://www.burgissbarn.com
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Enjoy a midsummer Wine Tasting to be held on Sunday,
July 4th at 2:00 PM (directly following the Sunday Buffet
at the Burgiss Barn). This particular wine tasting will
feature our light, fruity and cold summer wines:
Kiwi Gewurztraminer AKA "Sweet Holler"
Pink Grapefruit AKA "Thistle Pink"
Peach Chardonnay AKA "Peden White"
Raspberry White Zinfandel AKA "Horse Stomp Red"
Blackberry Merlot AKA "Lucky Black"
Strawberry Riesling/White Zin Blend AKA "Twin Oaks Red"
Black Cherry Pinot Noir AKA "Double Black"
Cranberry Shiraz AKA "Whitehead Red"
Cranberry Chianti AKA "Stone Mountain Red"
Black Currant Merlot AKA "Bonnie Black"
Green Apple Riesling AKA "Gap Civil White"
and our newest wine, Calypso Bianco AKA "Stone Mountain
White", which combines this medley of fruits: Mango,
Banana, Pineapple, and Guava)
Admission: $3.00 per person (souvenir glasses available
for small additional fee)
All in all, Thistle Meadow Winery offers over 40 different
kinds of red and white wine for your enjoyment.
So come up and sit on the porch, watch the clouds go by and
enjoy the sound of running water and a cool breeze.
http://www.thistlemeadowwinery.com
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Make your plans to attend grapestompers' 7th Annual Wine
Festival on Sunday, October 3rd at our location in Laurel
Springs, NC. Please call or e-mail to register for this
event 800-233-1505. Admission is only $5.00 per person,
and includes wine tasting, heavy hors d'oeuvres, live music,
and local artisans showing off their handmade crafts.
Other local wineries from the Yadkin Valley have been
invited to participate, so be sure and mark your calendar.
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GUEST COLUMN - Cooking With Wine: Your Recipes, Part I
By Susan Surratt, Kernersville NC
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Editor's Note: Last month, we asked for your input regarding
your favorite recipes made with wine. We've had some great
responses so far, and Chef Jimmy can't wait to see more!
The following is our first installment of customers'
recipes made with wine. If you would like to submit your
favorite recipe, send them to jimmy@grapestompers.com.
BBQ Salmon
3-4 lbs Salmon Filet
1 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. garlic minced
1 cup onion, finely chopped
1 Tbsp. garlic minced
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup white wine
2 Tbsp. brown sugar
4 Tbsp. butter
4 Tbsp. olive oil
Rinse salmon with water & pat dry. Rub filet with pepper
and 1 tsp. minced garlic. Use foil to hold salmon with
sides at least 1/2 inch and set to the side.
In a small saucepan over medium heat, sauté onion, butter
and olive oil until starts to turn brown. Add 1 tbsp.
minced garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add brown sugar, soy
sauce and white wine. Reduce heat and cook for about 5
minutes occasionally stirring. Sauce will thicken.
*-----------------HOT TIP------------------*
Let me suggest an alternative concept in
recycling used bottles - if you ask friends
to save their bottles for you - just have
them reinsert the corks without rinsing -
the small amount of wine that will be left
in the bottle will preserve the bottle -
without the dried out gunk forming.
All Hail Bacchus!
Our thanks to Norman L. Biegner of Fort White,
Florida for providing this tip.
Have a tip you'd like to submit?
Send it to tips@grapestompers.com
*-----------------HOT TIP------------------*
Pour hot sauce over Salmon filets in the foil. Let sit at
room temperature for at least 30 minutes to an hour.
Barbecue salmon filet in foil for approximately 15 minutes
or until done. Do not overcook!
This recipe is a family favorite. I find that this is
even tastier if the filets are cut smaller and the longer
you let salmon sit in sauce, the better.
Cleanup is very easy, because salmon is grilled in the foil
packet.
Susan Surratt
You can contact Susan at surratts@bellsouth.net
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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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10,000th Customer Wins Gift Certificate
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During the month of May, grapestompers served its 10,000th
customer. To commemorate this occasion, we offered a
$100 gift certificate to the Stomper subscriber who submitted
his/her order via our online order form and was assigned
invoice #10,000 (or the soonest thereafter).
The lucky winner was:
Phillip A. Russo from Raleigh, NC.
Congratulations, Phillip, and thank you to all of The
Stomper subscribers who entered the contest by placing
an order!
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CORKY'S WINEMAKING DEFINITION
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Extended Maceration
- The process of letting the red grapes remain in contact
with the juice for an extended amount of time after
fermentation is complete (before being pressed), to more
fully develop the flavor and richness of a 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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NEW PRODUCTS
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These are products that were recently added to our catalog:
- Item #3146 CC Harvest Tempranillo, on sale in June $80.99
- Item #3248 CC Harv German Riesling Auslese on sale $77.98
- Item #2254D Wheels for bottle drainers (each) $3.52
Read more about these new Cellar Classic Harvest wines:
http://www.rjspagnols.com/wine_ccHarvest.asp
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THIS MONTH'S SPECIALS
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grapestompers' specials for the month of June 2004 are:
Item # Description Reg. Price Special
3130 CC Cabernet Shiraz 91.63 77.88
3146 CC Harvest Tempranillo 95.26 80.99
3248 CC Harv. German Riesling Auslese 91.75 77.98
3239 CC Verdicchio 68.75 58.43
3255 CSG Pinot Grigio 71.50 60.77
2304 Corks, Altec (each) 0.26 0.21
2602 Wine Thief, glass 4.79 3.99
2105 Wine Bottles, Blue Hock 750 ml 14.75 11.99
2115 Wine Bottles, Flint Ice 375 ml 27.63 23.78
2113 Wine Bottles, Frosted 375 ml 27.50 22.99
2112 Wine Bottles, Frosted 750 ml 18.06 14.99
4609 Wine Chill bottle cooler 6.82 5.79
4315 Wine Glass Holder 5.25 4.49
5128 TMW Etched 18 oz Wine Glass 5.50 4.33
3200 Complete White Wine Starter Kit 232.29 180.00
3100 Complete Red Wine Starter Kit 241.42 190.00
Wine bottles are priced per case. There are twelve 750 ml
bottles per case (#2105 and #2112), twelve 375 ml bottles
per case (#2115 - Belissima Ice Wine), and twenty-four
375 ml bottles per case (#2113).
See below for a description of the Complete Starter Kit.
Did you see this month's hidden special? It's located
elsewhere in this newsletter.
The VDV (Vino del Vida) wine kits are designed to make about
thirty 750 ml bottles of great wine in as little as 28 days;
CC (Cellar Classic) and CSG (Cru Select Gold) kits create
wine in as few as 45 days. The Orchard Breezin' and Wine~Art
Country 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
Fast Flow Spigot
And you get the following items free ($16.79 value):
- 30 Customized Wine Labels (text of your choice)
- Triple scale hydrometer
- 1.5" 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 refund of $19.95 on your credit
card... that's like getting the video at no cost! 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 -
You can also save on shipping if you can locate your
own wine bottles... if you don't need wine bottles, just
be sure and let us know when you place your order, and we
will adjust the price of the equipment kit accordingly.
You can also upgrade your wine kit and get any other type
of wine you desire, by paying the difference for the
upgrade from the standard concentrate to the upgraded one.
Likewise, you can upgrade from the hand corker to either of
the floor corkers we offer by paying the difference.
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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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Past issues of the STOMPER can be found at
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Copyright (c) 2004 grapestompers.com. All rights reserved.
grapestompers.com
102 Thistle Meadow
Laurel Springs, NC 28644
Boring stuff for lawyers: 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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