Tag Archives: Xoakers

2014 Winemaking – What are we doing different?

2014 winemaking

Every year we look at what we did the previous year, if it worked, and what to do differently.

We are very happy with the how the 2013 Pinot turned out based on the sampling we did at bottling.  I’m hoping it progresses to a wonderfully complex wine in the next 9-12 months.

That said, here is what we did last year and changes this year.

Vineyard – Pick when flavors are optimal, usually around 23.5-24 brix.  Mix of Pommard and 667.  2014 – Will ferment/pick Pommard and 667 separately.  Depending of flavors we will bottle 1 to 3 wines.

Fermentation – Inoculate with Assmanhausen yeast after 5 day cold soak.  2014 – 7-10 day cold soak and then allow fermentation to begin for 1-2 days before inoculation to allow complexity from wild yeast.

Oak – 1 Xoaker per gallon of wine.  2014 – 1.33 Xoakers per gallon of wine to add slightly more oak flavor.

 

 

 

Don’t press wine with a white shirt!

Dirty shirt after press

 

Sometimes you can plan when to press and pick…sometimes it plans for you.  Last week we had a hot spell and the Pinot for Turtle Vines had to be harvested.  This week I thought I had another day of fermenting the Pommard clone…but when I checked at noon on the 9/17…it was ready!  So…I really should have changed my white hemp shirt…but we just started pulling out and cleaning the pressing equipment.   Three hours later we had 96 gallons of pressed juice.  On 9/18 I inoculated with malolactic and will rack on 9/19 and add Xoakers (oak balls).  The 667 clone will get pressed on 9/19.  I think that will go to plan as the temperature had cooled off.