Wednesday 18 September 2019

Les Vendanges 2019.



Yesterday's date was chosen for our wine-making on account of the amount of Wasps and Hornets that were around. If we'd left it any longer they would have been everywhere.

I'm not sure how many buckets we filled, but it felt like hundreds.


In the absence of a grape mangle, or clean feet, I opted to crush the grapes by hand; a distinctly satisfying task.


And this, above, is our Cuve. A converted plastic dustbin with plastic tap. Everything went inside.

Will it work? Well the principle is the same as in times gone by, so we can but wait and see. If it does work, we should have some wine in about two weeks. What it will taste like is an altogether different matter.

I am reasonably confident. Watch this space!



28 comments:

  1. I wish I could sample a small glass of the finished product! Yummy!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That remains to be seen, but I see no reason why it shouldn't be good.

      Delete
  2. I'm disappointed you didn't use your feet.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm not. As I was 'squelching' them, Boo Boo kept telling me "that's not the way to make wine". He didn't say what was the right way!

      Delete
  3. Thanks to you Cro we now have a fine looking vine in our Wrenery. Your post months ago gave us the idea, it looks mighty fine; at your suggestion it is planted outside and is growing a treat inside. Be a while before we can boast our own Ludlow vin de pays though!

    LX

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think vines grow well everywhere that isn't TOO cold. Sunny Ludlow should produce some good Welsh Wine.

      Delete
  4. Will keep watching - and good luck (not that you will need it, you are a seasoned performer in this field). Hope the 'snip' went well yesterday.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He was very happy to be home again. He seems OK.

      Delete
  5. Often think of Lucille Ball treading grapes (black & white episode) given a new lease of life in Pretty Woman film. I shall miss the nightly noise of the machinery around the old house.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I remember I love Lucy; it seemed very funny at the time!

      Delete
  6. Yes, exactly, it could be good or it could be complete crap.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Only time will tell. It smells right at the moment... fermenting OK.

      Delete
  7. Perfect timing. Vaso is picking hers tomorrow, before our weather breaks..........so they say.
    Your specialised equipment looks like its doing the job. Now all you need is patience.
    Let us know in the next few days if it starts fermenting....and how youre coping with the fumes!
    No reason you shouldn't get perfectly drinkable wine! Ktima Cro.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As I said above, it's started fermenting OK, it has that very distinctive aroma.

      Delete
  8. WOW ..... what a harvest ..... I am confident that there will be many bottles of wine made from it ! XXXX

    ReplyDelete
  9. I remember the smell of home made wine in the basement. My father made his own for a few years, but bought the grapes, rather than grow his own. I hope yours turns out well. -Jenn

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm following the local peasant method of wine making, so I'm hoping all will go well. It already has that distinctive smell.

      Delete
  10. I hope your wine turns out well and doesn’t explode on you like it did with us one year when we made our own.

    In my younger years, I entered a contest at a winery. Threes of us stomped grapes in our individual vats to see who could produce the most juice. I won the prize of a set of glasses but had to walk around town with purple feet for the rest of the day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My main concern is knowing when the fermentation finishes. I need to consult one of my neighbours.

      Delete
  11. Two week old wine? Rather like eating raw meat.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Yes, it looks hopeful. I can almost smell it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The fermenting process has a very distinctive aroma; it's obviously working.

      Delete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...