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chrismakingwine.bsky.social
@chrismakingwine.bsky.social
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chrismakingwine.bsky.social
2023 Lodi Zin

First vintage in the bottle!

I don't really think I can call it my vintage, I did not grow the grapes. Sounds cool tho.

Tasted and the wine has changed a lot in 6 months. Much lighter now. Lost some "big" wine character. Almost pinot-esque now.

#wine #winesky #winemaking #vintner
Shiny green glass wine bottles fill the foreground of the image. Each bottle filled halfway up the neck with inky dark wine. Assorted wine making equipment is visible in the background. A case of wine on it's side centers the image. Cardboard inserts form a 12X12 grid pattern. Each square occupied by light a colored circle, where the ends of the newly corked wine bottles are visible.
April 29, 2025 at 6:26 PM
chrismakingwine.bsky.social
Now we are cooking.

Wild ferment going strong. The cap overtopped the bucket so transferred to a larger fermentation vessel.

Temp is maybe a bit high at 75°, but I want to let this go "au natural" to fully experience what a wild fermentation will produce.

#wine #winesky #winemaking #vintner
Side view of a white plastic bucket wrapped in silver insulating bubble wrap. The lid is partially pushed away from the top of the bucket by a thick layer of dark purple gape skins and stems, swollen with C02 from the fermentation process. A large 7 gallon glass fermentation vessel fills the middle two thirds of the image. The vessel is filled with a mixture of dark purple grape juice and grape skins. The skins take up the top three quarters of the vessel and are shot through with C02 bubbles from the fermentation. A rainbird temperature controller lies next to the vessel, with a thin black wire running over the top and into the jar. The controller reads 74.9.
April 13, 2025 at 2:06 AM
chrismakingwine.bsky.social
Wild fermentation. Let's go!

When I popped the lid to start prepping for yeast inoculation, I found this. 😮

My theory is the "cold soak" temp, around 58 degrees, was too warm and the wild yeasts already on the grape skins were able to establish a healthy colony.

Can't wait to taste this wine!
Top down view of an open white plastic bucket, nearly filled with a dark purple mixture of grape juice and grape skins. A froth of purple bubbles cover the top.
April 10, 2025 at 6:38 PM
chrismakingwine.bsky.social
2024 Merlot Cont.

There are a few key components to a healthy wine fermentation. Including: yeast, sugar (brix), temperature, and acidity. A common measure of acidity is it's inverse, PH. Ideal PH for wine yeast is in the 3.3-3.6 range.

Initial PH:
3.87

A bit high.

#winesky #winemaking #vintner
A blue and white hand held Apera brand PH meter rests upright in a small glass jar. The probe end is immersed in dark purple grape juice. The glowing blue digital display reads 3.87.
April 9, 2025 at 2:13 AM
chrismakingwine.bsky.social
2024 Merlot Cont.

While the grapes "cold soak", I took some numbers.

Sugar content of the grape juice, as indicated in Brix.

Initial sugar content:
25 Brix

This corresponds to a potential abv of 15%.

Brix is simply the percentage of dissolved sugar in the juice.

#winesky #winemaking #vintner
A clear cylinder filled with dark purple wine centers the picture. The top of a hydrometer is visible, floating in the liquid. The wine level on the instrument reads 25.
April 9, 2025 at 2:00 AM
chrismakingwine.bsky.social
Merlot grapes arrived!

#winesky #winemaking #vintner
Top down view of a white plastic bucket. A lavender sticker on the top says 2024 Merlot Grape Must (6 gal) Top down view of an open white plastic bucket, 3/4 filled with a dark purple mixture of grape juice and grape skins. An upturned white plastic lid and large flat head screwdriver lie next to the bucket on a plain concrete floor.
April 7, 2025 at 6:37 PM
chrismakingwine.bsky.social
Road trip!

Mid trip across the desert southwest, USA. Enjoying a lovely tasting at Winery 1912 in Sedona, AZ. The winery features wine grapes from Spain and the Iberian peninsula.
An open wine menu lies on a black mesh metal outdoor bistro table. Pale golden wine in two glasses, sitting on the menu, reflects the late afternoon su.
March 17, 2025 at 12:44 AM
chrismakingwine.bsky.social
Pinot Gris starting to clear.

#winesky #winemaking #vintner
A one gallon glass jar, filled with a hazy gold colored wine, centers the image. The jar is surrounded by others, some golden, some only purple. Large manilla colored tags hang from the necks of the jars, listing details about each batch.
February 3, 2025 at 12:23 AM
chrismakingwine.bsky.social
0.5 brix!

With the sugars nearly gone, it was time to rack into new glass carboys.

Because the juice is already pressed off the skins, wine yield per pound is much higher with a white than a red. Approximately 5 gal per 50 lbs. Compared to 3 gal per 50 lbs for red.

#winesky #winemaking #vintner
A clear glass graduated cylinder filled with pale gold wine centers the image. The top of a hydrometer is visible, floating in the liquid. The wine level on the instrument reads 0.5. Large glass jars filled with wine dominate the image. Two with red wine and three with white. The white wine is a cloudy pale gold color. The red a dark, inky purple. A rubber stopper with airlock are fitted in the narrow neck of each jar. Each jar is tagged with the year, grape variety, and a ID unique to the batch.
January 27, 2025 at 5:05 AM
chrismakingwine.bsky.social
Going on a road trip!

In March, I'll be traveling through the United States desert southwest. Starting in Phoenix and ending in Reno. With stops in Sedona, Vegas, and Lake Tahoe.

Any good winery recommendations to visit?

#wine #winery #vintner
Map of the US southwest, overlaid with a driving route. The route starts in Phoenix, AZ, runs through Sedona, Vegas and Lake Tahoe.
January 21, 2025 at 4:28 PM
chrismakingwine.bsky.social
The story of the grapes (1 of 3).

AVA: Willamette Valley, OR
Vineyard: St. Josef's
Originally planted: 1978 by Josef Fleischmann

The Willamette Valley is a 3.4M acre AVA. Situated 60 miles inland from the pacific ocean, in the state of Oregon, on the US west coast.

#winesky #winemaking #vintner
A verdant green vineyard, with a brown dirt track sweeping across the front, fills the foreground of the image. A small figure in blue jeans and a dark blue coat stands on the dirt track in front of the vineyard. Rolling hills, interspersed with clumps of green trees, and a few more brown ribbons of road, fill the middle ground. A misty bright white sky takes up the top third of the photograph.
January 15, 2025 at 2:03 AM
chrismakingwine.bsky.social
A good start.

Fermentation kicked off without a hitch overnight. Evidenced by a layer of froth covering the top of the juice. Temp is a little too high at the moment. A long slow ferment is desired for Pinot Gris, to preserve the grape's subtle character.

- Temp 68°🌡️

#winesky #winemaking #vintner
Large 6.5 gallon glass jar, filled 3/4 with pinot gris grape juice. A RainBird temperature controller lies in front of the jar. The controller's temperature probe, connected by a long black wire, is submerged in the wine. The controller display reads 67.7. A black stick on type temperature strip on the outside of the jar reads 68.
January 11, 2025 at 4:45 AM
chrismakingwine.bsky.social
Time to start the show!

Racked to glass fermentation vessel and raised temp. Took measurements of the actual sugar content (Brix) and acidity (PH). Pitched DV10 yeast (combined with Go-ferm and Opti-white to ensure a healthy start).

- Temp 69° 🌡️
- PH 2.92
- Brix 22.5

#winesky #winemaking #vintner
Large 6.5 gallon glass jar, filled 3/4 with Pinot Gris grape juice. A black plastic encloses the wide mouth top. A clear plastic airlock, half filled with distilled water, sticks up from the middle of the lid. Three small, flattish plastic packages are arranged on a table, in a half hazard line from the top to bottom of the image. In order, from top to bottom, the white and black labels on the packages read Go-Ferm Protect Evolution, Opti-White, and DV10 Wine Yeast.
January 10, 2025 at 4:39 AM
chrismakingwine.bsky.social
Juice delivery!

Pinot Gris juice arrived, mostly frozen. This is not a grape "must", of course, since white wine grapes are typically pressed immediately after crushing to limit contact time with the skins.

- Thawed at 45° 🌡️ 3 days
- Added .6g potassium metabisulfite

#winesky #winemaking #vintner
A 5 gallon white plastic bucket sits on a small square, wood, wheeled platform. A label on the side reads "Pinot Gris Williamette 2022" along with a lot number, weight, and nutrition facts table. Top down view of a 5 gallon white plastic bucket. The lid is off. A solid cylinder of frozen white grape juice fills 3/4 of the bucket. A crescent of thawed juice is visible ringing one side.
January 8, 2025 at 9:19 PM
chrismakingwine.bsky.social
Next wine.

Ordered today: 2022 Williamette Valley Pinot Gris.

Ava - Willamette Valley, Oregon
Labs - Brix: 21.9 , pH: 3.10 , TA: TBD
Harvested October 12th, 2022

The Williamette Valley, best known for Pinot Noir, also produces excellent Pinot Gris.

#winesky #winemaking #vintner
Dark purple pinot grigio grape clusters hang on the vine, among bright green leaves. Rows of verdant green grape vines fill the bottom third of the image. An idyllic winery can be seen bordering the far side of the vineyard. A ribbon of evergreen and deciduous trees run through the middle of the image, surrounding the winery and topping the hill behind. The top half of the image is a pale blue sky, broken up by white to medium grey clouds.
December 31, 2024 at 2:39 PM
chrismakingwine.bsky.social
Expanding my horizons. :)
Screenshot of an email confirmation from Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET). Email reads: Here's your tickets, Chris. April 6, 2025 @ 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. WSET Level 1 Award in Wines.
December 30, 2024 at 5:18 PM
chrismakingwine.bsky.social
Scoria

Visited this lovely winery out in Caldwell this week. More evidence for me Idaho wines are up and coming. Two of the wines we tasted had a lot going on, especially surprising was the Rose. Lively, with intensity, and extra layers. Unexpected and absolutely delicious!

#wine #winery #winesky
Two very large wine glasses are perched on a black metal table, that fills the bottom two thirds of the image. A tasting menu rests on the table in the foreground. Sunlight pours in from a window on a far wall, partially washing out the image. The light refracts through a very small amount of light pink liquid in the bottom of each glass. Blue sky stretches over brown tilled earth to the horizon. In the distance a low hill indicates the location of a volcanic vent. On the slopes of the hill grow 40 acres of grape vines.
December 27, 2024 at 12:28 AM
chrismakingwine.bsky.social
Now we wait.

Second racking. Transferred wine off the lees to another glass carboy.

Add:
1 oz medium oak cubes
VP40 malolactic bacteria

It could take from 2 weeks to 3 months to complete malolactic fermentation. The goal of MLF is a less acidic, rounder wine.

#winesky #winemaking #vintner
Glass carboy (large jar) filled with dark purple wine. A paper card stock tag hangs from a thin metal wire wrapped around the neck of the carboy. 2024 Livermore Sangiovese is hand written on the tag, in purple marker.
December 22, 2024 at 3:15 AM
chrismakingwine.bsky.social
Time for a break.

The endless cap punch downs are done. With the sugar all metabolized, it was time for the first racking.

Temperature: 66°🌡️
Brix: 0.0%

Transferred wine into glass carboy.

Added:
.4g potassium metabisulfite

#winesky #winemaking #vintner
Large 3 gallon glass jar, 3/4 filled with dark purple wine. A rubber stopper with airlock are fitted in the narrow neck.
December 20, 2024 at 1:53 AM
chrismakingwine.bsky.social
Back to the wine.

Essentially all the sugars (fructose and glucose) have been metabolized by the yeast at this point.

Temperature: 67°🌡️
Brix: 0.5%

Next, it will be time for the first racking. Where the wine will be transferred into a glass carboy (large jar).

#winesky #winemaking #vintner
A clear cylinder filled with dark purple wine centers the picture. The top of a hydrometer is visible, floating in the liquid. The wine level on the instrument reads 0.5.
December 18, 2024 at 7:58 PM
chrismakingwine.bsky.social
The story of the grapes (3 of 3).

My grapes were farmed conventionally at the Mission vineyard, located in the Ruby Hills region, within the Livermore Valley AVA. The grapes were harvested in 2024.

Credit:
www.baywinebrokers.com/product/sang...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Livermo...
missonwines.com
A map of the San Francisco Bay region of the California west coast, USA. The Livermore Valley AVA, just east of San Francisco Bay, is highlighted in yellow on the map.
December 17, 2024 at 3:36 AM
chrismakingwine.bsky.social
@ 1/3 sugar break!

Fermentation is ripping now. Temp is up. Brix dropped 7 degrees overnight.

Temperature: 77°🌡️
Brix: 17°

Added:
Fermaid-K (4g)
FT Rouge (5g)

#winesky #winemaking #vintner
Top down view of an open white plastic bucket with lid on. A silver and black digital thermometer sits on top. The display reads 77 degrees. Top down view of an open white plastic bucket, nearly filled with a dark purple mixture of grape juice and grape skins. A long handled punch down tool is emersed in the liquid. A froth of purple bubbles cover the top.
December 12, 2024 at 7:09 PM
chrismakingwine.bsky.social
Temp and PH down today.

PH and temp are down but still within normal ranges for healthy fermentation. Skins are absorbing a lot of C02. About 2 inches from the top of the bucket now, before punch down.

Temp: 67
PH: 3.31
A blue and white hand held Apera brand PH meter rests upright in a small glass jar. The probe end is immersed in grape juice. The digital display reads 3.31. Top down view of an open white plastic bucket sitting on a square of plastic sheeting. A thick layer of dark purple grape skins rises nearly to the top.
December 10, 2024 at 7:53 PM
chrismakingwine.bsky.social
The fun begins..

Good fermentation started this morning. Temp is stable. First cap punch down. This will be a 3x daily routine.

12/9
- temp 73°

#winesky #winemaking #vintner
Top down view of an open white plastic bucket sitting on a square of plastic sheeting. A froth of small light purple bubbles covers more than half the surface of the dark purple grape must inside.
December 9, 2024 at 12:17 PM
chrismakingwine.bsky.social
2024 Sangiovese Cont.

Completed three day cold soak. Raised must temp. Added supplements and pitched yeast.

12/4
- brix 26.5
- PH 3.44

12/7
- add .6g SO2

12/8 AM
- add 5g Opti-Red

12/8 PM
- temp 70°
- pitch yeast starter
(6g Go-Ferm, 4g D21)

#winesky #winemaking #vintner
Top down view of an open white plastic bucket, two thirds filled with a dark purple mixture of grape juice and grape skins. Top down view of an open white plastic bucket with lid on. A silver and black digital thermometer sits on top. The display reads 70 degrees.
December 9, 2024 at 3:30 AM