WHAT EVERY HOME WINE MAKER NEEDS (ONE OPINION)

What do you need to make homemade wine?

Most of the required equipment will already be available in your kitchen, but there are some thing that you will probably need to buy like preservative (sulfur dioxide), a water seal, a fermentation container, siphon and yeast. You can buy these things new at a home brew store, your local department store or online. They are usually part of a wine making kit. But when you do not know if you are going to like it to make homemade wine it is also an option to buy used equipment online.

A very basic description of a wine making process

It all depends on the recipe you are going to follow, when you buy a wine making kit we advise you to use the recipe that comes in the box. If you are going to do without a kit, we advise you to look online for a good recipe. In general the process of how to make homemade wine goes as follows:

Make sure you have all the ingredients like wine grapes, yeast, wheat, eggs and sugar. (follow your recipe)and crush the washed grapes in an earthen jar with lid.  The egg whites need to be whipped.
Add all the ingredients, the sugar and the egg whites to the grapes, stir and close the lid tightly.
Stir the contents daily for three weeks and make sure you close the lid every day.
Then let the mixture stand for three weeks without stirring, strain the clear wine with a nylon cloth

Very important tip: sanitation

Every website you will read, every book you buy, every recipe that will come with a kit to make homemade wine, will stress the importance of sanitation because a single bacteria can ruin your whole batch of wine. And you will have done all this hard work for nothing. Not only the ingredients should be treated as clean as you can but also the utensils and the work space where you make homemade wine.


The webmaster does not use egg whites in his own wine making.  Readers opinions are welcome.

Service from E C Kraus

WINEMAKER'S GLOSSARY
FLOCCULATION:
A term that is used to describe the clumping together of yeast
cells that occurs towards the end of a fermentation. As the
fermentation begins to slow down the yeast will become less
active and flocculate together into larger particles. These
larger particles settle out more quickly, shortening the time
necessary to clear the wine.
Flocculation can also be used when discussing fining agents or
clarifiers. Most fining agents are able to take elements out of a
wine by causing them to flocculate in to larger particles--which
again--will settle out more rapidly
_____
-- To learn more about other wine making terms see our
Winemaker's Glossary on our website.

2009 PREHARVEST REPORT

This year Taylor Ridge has experienced no serious frosts. Consequently we have good crops in most varieties. We have had a cool July but we have been blessed with a warming August. The harvest will commence on about the same schedule as last year. Early grapes like Reliance, Foch and Millot will probably begin September 10th to 15th. The mid season grapes should start September 21st to 26th, later grapes from September 26th to October 15th. We may have small amounts of Marquette. We are expecting good crops of Seyvel, Lacrosse, and Dechaunac, while Noiret and Landot 4511 are somewhat smaller than last year. Cayuga White is also in good supply.

Crop Outlook for 2008:

Taylor Ridge Vineyards Aug. 22, 2008

3843 105^th Ave. cell: 269-491-1512

Allegan, MI 49010 home: 269-521-4047

bctaylor@btc-bci.com

New Web Site: www.taylorridgevineyard.com Come check us out!!!

Volume Discount: 2% for 40 gallons or more; 6% for 100 gallons or more.

Early Order Discount: Orders received by Sept.3- 3%

Supplies: We continue to stock basic wine supplies: yeast, sulfite, bubblers, carboys, hydrometers, various corks and closures, and winemaking books, 5 gal. plastic transporter jugs

Vineyard Management: In order to assure the best quality grapes, we do considerable hand labor including combing and removing leaves. We are also burying all vinifera vines during the winter, which assures their survival during bitter winters. Our grapes are hand-picked, crushed, pressed and immediately chilled to 35 degrees. This cold stabilization process acts as a natural filter and removes much of the sediment.

Crop Outlook for 2008:

Southwestern Michigan experienced a 27 degree frost in late April. The Concord and Niagara crop was reduced by about 40%. Most of the wine grape varieties recovered and have full crops with a few exceptions. The Foch crop was reduced by half and the Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc crops are down about 35%. Most other varieties have full crops.

Beginning harvest dates will commence about 7-10 days later than last year. The harvest of grapes like Foch, Seyval and Lacrosse will probably occur between September 10 and September 22^nd. The mid season will start about September 20^th. Reliance could be harvested earlier. In fact, we may harvest it shortly after Labor Day. If you want Reliance, let me know as soon as possible. We can hold it for you in our cooler. Late varieties like Chambourcin and Cabernet Franc will not be harvested until late September or early October. We have had excellent weather the past two weeks with consistent warmth and little rain. This bodes well for the quality of the harvest and compensates for the cooler early summer weather.

We have constructed another deer fence so that 2/3 of our vineyard is now protected. New plantings this year include more Marquette, Valvin Muscat, Lemberger and Frontenac Gris.

Ordering

When you have decided what you would like to order, either call or e-mail us. We will then let you know when your order is ready. Remember that you must supply your own containers unless you let

us know that you need to buy carboys or transporter containers from us. Please be sure to confirm that your order is ready by calling us before driving here.

.

Red Varieties	Price per gallon	Price/pound picked
Foch	$7.80	.63
Dechaunac	$6.80	.48
Frontenac	$7.40	.53
Cabernet Franc	$12.80	.1.15
Red Blend	$6.55
Noiret (NY 73)	$9.50	.69
Concord	$6.50	.43
Leon Millot	$7.80	.62
Landot 4511	$7.59	.53
Chambourcin	$7.80	.62
GR7	$7.00	.50
White Varieties
LaCrosse	$6.80
Seyval Blanc	$7.30
Chardonnel	$7.50
Chardonnay	$12.30
White Blend	$6.50
St. Pepin	$8.00
Reliance	$6.65
Traminette	$8.00
Niagara	$6.50
Muscat Ottonel	$14.00
Espirit	$7.00
Vignoles	$8.50

Grape Varieties

Red Varieties

Cabernet Franc: Produces an aromatic red wine that is softer than Cabernet Sauvignon. A vinifera variety used as one of the grapes in Red Bordeaux.

Chambourcin: Makes a good red but also makes a good blush wine. It ages well.

Concord: One of the oldest American varieties. It makes a strong flavored foxy wine, which is sometimes made dry but usually sweet.

Dechaunac: Makes a wine reminiscent of some Italian wines.

Foch: Produces a fruity red table wine with a distinctive varietal flavor. Good acid: sugar balance.

Frontenac: Produces a full bodied wine which is especially good for blending with Dechaunac or Foch.

GR-7 Another New York State Hybrid. It makes darker red wines and it has a good tannin structure.

Landot 4511: Reminiscent of Beaujolais. Similar to Foch in ripening.

Leon Millot: This wine has a distinct berry aroma. It is a sister variety of Foch.

Noiret: Produces wine with notes of green and black pepper and raspberry. Good tannin.

White Varieties

Cayuga White: Can be made either into a semi-sweet wine emphasizing its fruity aromas or dry for a less fruity wine. Wines are pleasant and Germanic in style.

Chardonnel: This grape is a cross of Seyval and Chardonnay with hints of Chardonnay character.

Chardonnay: The premier French white wine grape, which is used in making Chablis or white burgundy. It is also a part of the champagne blend in France.

Espirit: Wine has a mildly fruity flavor.

LaCrosse: This is a versatile wine grape, which can be made dry but also makes a good semi dry wine. Wine has good body and can improve body of lighter wines.

Muscat Ottonel: A true European Muscat grape that can make a rich dessert wine.

Niagara: A floral wine with a unique flavor. One of the oldest American varieties, it is also used in American champagnes.

Reliance: Produces high sugars and makes a rich tasting wine.

Seyval: This grape is the mainstay of the hybrid white wines in Michigan. It can be made dry or semi-sweet and blends well with LaCrosse.

St. Pepin: This grape is a hybrid of Seyval and makes an excellent sweet wine.

Traminette: A Gewürztraminer hybrid wine having a spicy quality reminiscent of the Gewürztraminer parent.

Vignoles: Makes either a dry or slightly sweet wine. Has a distinct varietal flavor.

Taylor Ridge Vineyard Grape Varieties

Red Varieties

Cabernet Franc: Produces an aromatic red wine that is softer than Cabernet Sauvignon. A vinifera variety used as one of the grapes in Red Bordeaux.

Chambourcin: Makes a good red but also makes a good blush wine. It ages well.

Concord: One of the oldest American varieties. It makes a strong flavored foxy wine, which is sometimes made dry but usually sweet.

Dechaunac: Makes a wine reminiscent of some Italian wines.

Foch: Produces a fruity red table wine with a distinctive varietal flavor. Good acid: sugar balance.

Frontenac: Produces a full bodied wine which is especially good for blending with Dechaunac or Foch.

GR-7: Another New York State Hybrid. It makes darker red wines and it has a good tannin structure.

Landot 4511: Reminiscent of Beaujolais. Similar to Foch in ripening.

Leon Millot: This wine has a distinct berry aroma. It is a sister variety of Foch.

Noiret: Produces wine with notes of green and black pepper and raspberry. Good tannin.

White Varieties

Cayuga White: Can be made either into a semi-sweet wine emphasizing its fruity aromas or dry for a less fruity wine.

Chardonnel: This grape is a cross of Seyval and Chardonnay with hints of Chardonnay character.

Chardonnay: The premier French white wine grape, which is used in making Chablis or white burgundy. It is also a part of the champagne blend in France.

Espirit: Wine has a mildly fruity flavor.

Lacrescent: The wine has a distinct apricot flavor with good aromatics and blends with more neutral whites. (First crop probably in 2008)

LaCrosse: This is a versatile wine grape, which can be made dry but also makes a good semi dry wine. Wine has good body and can improve body of lighter wines.

Muscat Ottonel: A true European Muscat grape that can make a rich dessert wine.

Niagara: A floral wine with a unique flavor. One of the oldest American varieties, it is also used in American champagnes.

Reliance: Produces high sugars and makes a rich tasting wine.

Seyval: This grape is the mainstay of the hybrid white wines in Michigan. It can be made dry or semi-sweet and blends well with LaCrosse.

St. Pepin: This grape is a hybrid of Seyval and makes an excellent sweet wine.

Traminette: A Gewürztraminer hybrid wine having a spicy quality reminiscent of the Gewürztraminer parent.

For pricing go to www.taylorridgevineyard.com

Health benefits of red wine

Compound in Red Wine May Be Key to Heart Health
But levels of procyanidins aren't the same in all wines, study says

By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 29 (HealthDay News) -- The benefits of red wine keep pouring in: British researchers now say that higher levels of procyanidins -- a compound found in red wine -- have potent protective effects on blood vessels.

But, the levels of procyanidins -- a type of flavonoid polyphenol -- vary in different types of wines, depending on where they're produced. Red wines from areas in southwest France and Sardinia, where traditional winemaking is still practiced and where people tend to live long lives, have higher levels of the compound, the researchers said.

"The endothelial cells which line our arteries are an important site of action for the vascular protective effects of polyphenols," Roger Corder, of Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry in London, said in a prepared statement. "We purified the most biologically active polyphenols and identified them as procyanidins."

The researchers then tested wines from two regions in southwest France and Sardinia and compared them with wines from other countries. The wines from France and Sardinia had surprisingly high levels of procyanidins, often five to 10 times more than wines produced elsewhere, the researchers found.

These findings suggest that although a glass or two a day can benefit the circulatory system, not all red wines provide the same amount of polyphenols.

"The traditional production methods used in Sardinia and southwestern France ensure that the beneficial compounds, procyanidins, are efficiently extracted," Corder said. "This may explain the strong association between consumption of traditional tannic wines with overall well-being, reflected in greater longevity."

Welcome

In 1975, we began planting our vineyard for the purpose of supplying home winemakers with a variety of locally grown, fresh grapes for winemaking. We now raise 21 varieties including Vinifera, French hybrids, New York and Minnesota hybrids and the traditional American varieties, Niagara and Concord.

In 1980, we added a cooler and press so that we are now able to provide fresh, lightly pressed juice that has settled and been chilled to retard fermentation. Our grapes are all hand picked and mostly grown on our own farm. Those that we buy are grown locally. We cluster, thin and open the ripening grapes to full sun by combing out the individual shoots.



Crop Outlook-2007

We have a wonderful crop with an excellent berry set. The heat summation table is the highest at this point in the last 12 years and the fall harvest could be one of the best in the last decade. We thin our crop and comb out the vines to allow maximum sun exposure. As of July 1, 2007, predictions for the grape harvest are 10-14 days ahead of normal harvest dates.