Well I am back home in Texas from by bi-annual trip to Maryland to visit my wine making buddy Paul Lehman (who posts here). He works part time and Windham Winery in Northern VA and I had the opportunity to work with him in the winery. Draining sterilized barrels, stacking them, pumping wine from the fermentation vats, testing acidity, picking, crushing, and above all tasting prior vintages. It was a kind of wine heaven. Brought back 100 lbs Merlot, 200 lbs Cab. Franc, 6 gal Chardonnay, and 6 gal of Sav. Blank. This was a bad year for grapes in the area but we have to live with what we get. All were started there and brought back fermenting in vats or carboys in the back of my van. It was a heady drive. Fortunately I was not stopped along the way by any revenuers. Every home winemaker should have the chance to work in a winery just for the experience.
Then I headed up to northern Pennsylvania to Niagara Falls to satisfy the wife and over to Presque Isle just to see their shop and then to Walkers Fruit Basket. Walkers has a nice operation if you can get by there. Lots of fruit juices at VERY reasonable prices and you can taste wine made from the fruit. Dry, semi, and sweet. I got Cherry and Rhubarb juice.
Then I worked (tasted) my way through the New York Finger Lack district. On the way home I picked up apple juice that I kept on ice to start at home.
A very enjoyable vacation. A lot of new experiences in the winery, a lot of commercial wine tasting, a LOT of homemade wine tasting, a lot of fun.
Thanks again for the great hospitality Paul.
Ray