Last Day of Pressing 2009

September 21, 2009.

Today we finished pressing the mourvedre. Everything is now in glass carboys. Later, if we get some winery space we will use stainless steel and neutral oak (at least three years old to avoid oak flavors and tannins).

Coleman will post a photo or two.

First Press 2009 Vintage

Our apprentice winemakers, Tom and Nick, did a fine job at the press today. They helped in all parts of the operation.

They helped select the must that was ready to be pressed based on the appearance of the sinking cap and the signs of faint, tapering fermentation. With their guidance, we resolved to press all of our syrah and nothing else for the moment.

They helped assemble and screw the press.

They helped assess the free-run wine and the hard press wine.




They helped with siphoning into carboys for racking.







They helped remove the pomace in a single piece that will odiferously grace the compost heap for days to come.

Then they helped us clean up and eat burritos and menudo.

Still to be pressed: grenache, mourvedre, Pelin's syrah, and some experimental tempranillo.

First pressing 2009

Tomorrow we press at least a few gallons at about 10am.

Everything Fermenting September 11, 2009

Finally the difficult and tart counoise is showing active fermentation. The rest is going gangbusters or already tapering off. We may have to press the first batches of grenache and syrah this Sunday.

By the way, a gentlemanly fellow garagiste gave us some of his tempranillo to experiment with. This we dare to ferment with native yeast.

Who wants to press on Sunday?