ADD Summer 2023
Happy Summertime everyone. Well, my intentions were to get back in the winery earlier this year but as usual, I saw a squirrel and went up another tree, then a rabbit hole, and now have made my roundabout way back here. It's been a good year so far, from time in the woodshop earlier in the year to getting the pool ready and the yard decked out in flowers this spring, I haven't been bored for sure.
As you can see from the pic on this blog post, little Sophie is growing up and doing great. She is walking and trying her best to keep up with big brother Hunter. I'll add some pics of both of them to the gallery soon, but they are both absolutely wonderful and I can't get enough of them. Hunter played T-ball this spring, Sophie turned one in notable fashion, and it's just been a joy watching them grow. Nothing in the world like family, and I am blessed to have my kids and grandkids all within a couple hours drive.
The winery is going along well, I have three different wines going right now and some others will be starting soon. Two of the wines are for the upcoming weddings of the kids of a couple friends of the family. I have a Chardonnay going for Tony's son's wedding, and a Riesling for Heather's daughter's wedding. The Chardonnay will be unoaked and dry, and the Riesling will be off-dry or maybe even off-sweet, both to suit the tastes each prefer. Both are coming along nicely and I have high hopes for them. I'll post pics of the labels after the big events, don't want to spoil any surprises! I also have a toasted caramel dessert wine in primary fermentation, this is the third batch of this particular wine I have made and it is one of my personal favorites. It's fairly high gravity and sweet like a good port, but with a buttery caramel flavor. I usually bottle this in 375ml splits but then I have to open more bottles so I'll likely go with standard 750ml bottles for this batch.
I have my sights set on another raspberry wine that will go into the fermenter as soon as the toasted caramel is racked, and then maybe a mango, I've never made that before and I need to add something new to the recipe page.
That's pretty much it for now, more to follow. Enjoy the summer!